The Duck Thread

[caesargirl]

. So I have 3 eggs due next Saturday. Can anyone tell me about this air cell? My temp/humidity are good, I'm running low humidity incubation. This one it tapping... Can it be a very early hatch? Yes, know there's an incubation forum, just this one seems to be more active. Thank you for the help.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well my Cayugas just had an outing into the big field for a grasshopper picnic. Boy did they have a feast...and so early in the day. There were probably several hundred grasshopper that met their maker this morning. Funny too that they have begun to slack off on their egg laying. Where they used to lay 14 eggs to 14 females in their pen overnight they are now only laying maybe 5 in the pen and another 5 or 6 in their little field. Well this a.m. as they ran out to get the grasshoppers a couple of them just dropped an egg in the big field without even slowing down. Just shows that a duck will lay an egg whenever the urge hits without any concern about where they are.

When ya have to ya have too.

 

[WVduckchick]

Awwww! Beautiful. What kind of duck is on the far right? (And do you have a side pic???)

They are all Black/Splash Swedish. The one on the right is Opie. I have a million pictures of Opie! LOL
Here's her baby pic: lol


Here's a side view for you.

Good morning, I put duck eggs in the incubator on Monday temp and humidity have been stable I have two thermometers going. When should I candle the eggs? I want to make sure I get any eggs out that may explode... I removed two oozers on Tuesday. Scared of the stinky mess I read about. The incubator has a smell not a very stinky smell but more of like a farm smell...is that ok

Today is just day 4, you won't see much yet, but maybe. Usually day 5-6 you can maybe start seeing some signs of development. By day 7 should definitely be able to guess whether they are clear or fertile. Unless they are oozing, you shouldn't get a stink-bomb that early. I wait till about day 10 to remove clears, just to be positive. Some odor is normal, just not really "stink", . You will KNOW the bad smell! lol Personally, I think that 3rd week is what made me a candling addict! Ducklings are very active in the shell! And sooooo cool to watch. Enjoy and let us know how it goes! Best of luck!

. So I have 3 eggs due next Saturday. Can anyone tell me about this air cell? My temp/humidity are good, I'm running low humidity incubation. This one it tapping... Can it be a very early hatch? Yes, know there's an incubation forum, just this one seems to be more active. Thank you for the help.

Next Saturday as in the 27th? Does that humped-up area move? It might be trying to break the membrane into the air cell, but that's very early, if you mean they are due on the 27th. But if it is tapping, then you might get an early surprise. . Has this egg been laying down through incubation or what? After upright incubation, then laying down during lockdown, the air cell will continue to draw down as the baby gets into position. Might need to up the humidity on that baby quick.

 

[caesargirl]

They are all Black/Splash Swedish. The one on the right is Opie. I have a million pictures of Opie! LOL Here's her baby pic: lol Here's a side view for you. Today is just day 4, you won't see much yet, but maybe. Usually day 5-6 you can maybe start seeing some signs of development. By day 7 should definitely be able to guess whether they are clear or fertile. Unless they are oozing, you shouldn't get a stink-bomb that early. I wait till about day 10 to remove clears, just to be positive. Some odor is normal, just not really "stink", . You will KNOW the bad smell! lol Personally, I think that 3rd week is what made me a candling addict! Ducklings are very active in the shell! And sooooo cool to watch. Enjoy and let us know how it goes! Best of luck! Next Saturday as in the 27th? Does that humped-up area move? It might be trying to break the membrane into the air cell, but that's very early, if you mean they are due on the 27th. But if it is tapping, then you might get an early surprise. . Has this egg been laying down through incubation or what? After upright incubation, then laying down during lockdown, the air cell will continue to draw down as the baby gets into position. Might need to up the humidity on that baby quick.

Opie hast to be one of the most gorgeous ducks! And yes, eggs on their sides the whole time, I've upped the humidity. And yup, duckie is poking at the internal membrane. Opinion on survival? (I'm not optimistic, just hopeful!)

 

[Debs Flock]

Question...my drake has started something new. He kinda puts his head forward and down and then runs towards me for just 4 or 5 steps. None of the other 3 are doing it. LOL...is he trying to scare me for some reason? Goofy duck!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Question...my drake has started something new. He kinda puts his head forward and down and then runs towards me for just 4 or 5 steps. None of the other 3 are doing it. LOL...is he trying to scare me for some reason? Goofy duck!

Yep wants to make himself look big in front of the Ladies, as long as he doesn't let it get beyond that leave him alone or bend over and act like your going to pick hm up that usually gets mine going in the opposite direction.
My old drake use to wait till I turned around and started walking I could hear his webbed feet walking fast behind me but as soon as I turned around he stopped and looked around like "what's up" some drakes don't though and will start actually nipping you don't want that.

 

[Julie Birb]

Yep wants to make himself look big in front of the Ladies, as long as he doesn't let it get beyond that leave him alone or bend over and act like your going to pick hm up that usually gets mine going in the opposite direction.
My old drake use to wait till I turned around and started walking I could hear his webbed feet walking fast behind me but as soon as I turned around he stopped  and looked around like "what's up" some drakes don't though and will start actually nipping you don't want that.

Ha-ha,you heard his webs coming behind you. Cute.

 

[Debs Flock]

Yep wants to make himself look big in front of the Ladies, as long as he doesn't let it get beyond that leave him alone or bend over and act like your going to pick hm up that usually gets mine going in the opposite direction.
My old drake use to wait till I turned around and started walking I could hear his webbed feet walking fast behind me but as soon as I turned around he stopped and looked around like "what's up" some drakes don't though and will start actually nipping you don't want that.

LOL...oh my gosh. That's funny. Guess it kinda makes sense though since he is the only boy. He's the biggest of the bunch already. I hope this doesn't mean his hormones are already on their way to kicking in. I'm not looking forward to temporarily losing my sweet boy to puberty. He's just over 8 weeks old.

HA...great visual. Here you are walking along and you've got mister drake stalking you from behind.

Yeah, my intention is to let nature take its course among them and only intervene to avoid bodily harm. How would you suggest I "correct" him if he starts nipping (me, not the ducks)?

 

[Julie Birb]

They are all Black/Splash Swedish. The one on the right is Opie. I have a million pictures of Opie! LOL Here's her baby pic: lol Here's a side view for you. Today is just day 4, you won't see much yet, but maybe. Usually day 5-6 you can maybe start seeing some signs of development. By day 7 should definitely be able to guess whether they are clear or fertile. Unless they are oozing, you shouldn't get a stink-bomb that early. I wait till about day 10 to remove clears, just to be positive. Some odor is normal, just not really "stink", . You will KNOW the bad smell! lol Personally, I think that 3rd week is what made me a candling addict! Ducklings are very active in the shell! And sooooo cool to watch. Enjoy and let us know how it goes! Best of luck! Next Saturday as in the 27th? Does that humped-up area move? It might be trying to break the membrane into the air cell, but that's very early, if you mean they are due on the 27th. But if it is tapping, then you might get an early surprise. . Has this egg been laying down through incubation or what? After upright incubation, then laying down during lockdown, the air cell will continue to draw down as the baby gets into position. Might need to up the humidity on that baby quick.

Weeeeeee, Opie. I remember that baby pic of her on burgundy towel. As an adult she now needs me to love squeeze her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL...oh my gosh. That's funny. Guess it kinda makes sense though since he is the only boy. He's the biggest of the bunch already. I hope this doesn't mean his hormones are already on their way to kicking in. I'm not looking forward to temporarily losing my sweet boy to puberty. He's just over 8 weeks old.

HA...great visual. Here you are walking along and you've got mister drake stalking you from behind.

Yeah, my intention is to let nature take its course among them and only intervene to avoid bodily harm. How would you suggest I "correct" him if he starts nipping (me, not the ducks)?

When my now 4 yr old started wanting to mate with me[he is my imprinted one] all my other drakes have always been very good about not wanting to nip, but Opie well he really was a confused boy being raised by me and dh so when he started around 4 months of age jumping on me when i turned my back or trying to climb up my leg if i sat even climb up my back he was looney. I started out holding him down flat on his belly one hand on the neck the other at base of body where tails meets. I'd hold him till he stopped squirming, this is how another drake would discipline a subordinate drake. He would be so bad I would have to put the broom between us to stop him. [Hopefully you'll not have this problem with your drake] but we do see it alot when they start into puberty.8 weeks is kind of young so start training him now when you start towards him put your arms out like you want to scoop him up and snuggle him. your just letting him know you are big duck. I even do this with my roos and have only ever had one to spur me.