Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[QuackerJackFarms]

X2

1. babies too hot, bunch up at end means lift the light about 12 inches. They need the option of heat or not heated. Lift the light right away. Maybe change to a 100 or even 60 for that space, and leave it at 12" They should NOT BE PANTING!

2. watch the bands, they are used to mark lineage and the like at the breeders. They are your ducks, take off the band if you want to. Otherwise, when the are about to get a bit tight, cut them off.

Welcome to Hatch Day is Today!

 

[DutchChic]

Fingers are officially crossed!!!!

DutchChic, are you from the Netherlands? And, yes, this thread moves like lightening!!!!!!!!

LOL...no I'm not...I used to raise Dutch Bantams, and was heavy into them when I joined BYC back in 2008. They were out of a line directly from Holland. I lost a lot of birds to coons summer before last, and it sort of took the wind out of my sails, so to speak. I do still have a rooster left...I call him Pretty Boy Floyd. He's really something, lol.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Welcome DutchChic! We move at Ludicrous Speed here.


ETA: That's one step above ridiculous speed. (For those of you who are "Spaceballs" fans.

 

[Marty1876]

Julie -

Send your kids out to collect worms while its raining and they are hanging out on sidewalks and stuff. Just put them in a box with dirt and shredded paper on top. I actually mix dirt and peat moss here, cause you know how clay soil is.

You should google mealworms, and raise them instead. Fast, easy, neat. Buy woms at a bate shop if you need to. At least its only for 3 weeks before he'll be out like his folks, getting his own lunch.

 

[Marty1876]

Ha ha ha I remember. And how about that hairdryer??

Welcome DutchChic! We move at Ludicrous Speed here.


ETA: That's one step above ridiculous speed. (For those of you who are "Spaceballs" fans.

 

[DutchChic]

Ok...so what is a woodcock?

 

[augustusthunder727]

Thank you so much. This is such a wonderful forum for advice. We just bought a 5 acre farm last year (our little piece of heaven) so we are quickly building up our farm family. I was raised on a farm but we always had horses. Chickens and ducks are a completely new experience but I am loving every second of it! Thanks so much for your help!

 

[JulieNKC]

When I get home I'll take a photo of my candling torch. It has a piece of soft cylindrical foam around it that makes you can create a soft seal against the egg. I got the cylindrical foam at a hardware supply shop - it's stuff you put around copper water pipes. Got to get the right size but it fits around the end of an LED torch like the one you are using, Julie. Makes candling easier as all the light goes into the egg, rather than shining round the outside.

That makes sense. I can see it easily enough candling, just not to take pics. I think that would work great for candling quail eggs though. I usually use a teeny penlight, but that sounds much easier.

Well, candling regular will work like with the others. Wait for the air cell to tip, and i gues you'll be there. Watch for the internal pip. Looks good, though. I sure hope he gets here ok. I think all of us, espcially QJ will appreciate a nice woodcock pic. Dont you think??? LOL

My incubator has been holding oddly steady for the past week, even with all the hatching. So I'm really hoping he hatches too, he's looking great. Just need to figure out what to brood him with. I'm guessing cuddle for a few days to imprint on me, then with the poults when they hatch so that maybe he'll stick around.

Hi everyone. I am hoping you can help me out. I am an advid lover of chickens(currently have 9 6month olds and 12 3 week olds). My fiancee and I just added 6 ducklings (4 pekins and 2 white crested) to our family. I did all of my research but still have a couple questions. First, 3 of the 6 are banded. Could anyone tell me if the bands will expand as my little guys get bigger or should I try to take them somewhere to have the bands removed? Also what is the reason for them being banded in the first place? They are getting so big so fast. I worry that the bands might eventually cut off circulation. My second question is regarding heat. The little ones are in a big tote right now with a 250 watt heat lamp approximately 6 inches from the top on an angle (not pointing straight down). One of my girls is panting which I know is their way of cooling off so I was assuming that it was too warm. I did a little research but my girls seem to contradict everything I've read about. They sleep huddled together which is suppose to be a sign that they're cold but they do so at the far end of the tote away from the heat lamp and one of them is panting. I have only had them for a week but I love them so much. They pretty much have taken me as their duck "mommy" which I must say absolutely melts my heart. I just want to make sure I am doing everything right. Thank you in advance for any help you are able to give!

How old are the ducklings? They don't need nearly as much heat as chickens, I think a regular light bulb (not the cfl, the old kind) would probably be good depending on how cold the air temp is. I'd cut the bands, they were probably put to identify them. Like who came from what parents, boys from girls, etc.

 

[Marty1876]

Thank you so much. This is such a wonderful forum for advice. We just bought a 5 acre farm last year (our little piece of heaven) so we are quickly building up our farm family. I was raised on a farm but we always had horses. Chickens and ducks are a completely new experience but I am loving every second of it! Thanks so much for your help!

No problem. Remember, put in a thermometer. on floor under light: 95* first week. 90* second week 85* third, and so on, until they are feathered. Watch the temps, clean water often, keep poo out of the food, and you'll probobly be good.

 

[augustusthunder727]

they turned 1 week old this past Tuesday.