Unexpected ducklings, different ages

[Miss Lydia]

Well maybe when there is the first external pip an go from there.

 

[KCNC06]

Thank you all for all the feedback! I spend a lot of time with the first 8, they've pretty much taken over our master bathroom during the day at this point. I showed them Bill Bill through their baby gate bathroom "door" this afternoon. They looked at him but then started trying to reach my toes through the gate like they normally do. They seem pretty obsessed with my feet most of the time.
If I didn't mention it before, I've read the assisting with hatching pages on here a few times recently. Two of the 8 were breach, had pipped externally not in the air cell, and I followed the instructions on how to help them out. I took it slow and both are doing great now. I had to help Bill Bill a bit too. He pipped into his air cell but after about 24 hrs there wasn't a mark on the outside so I made a safety hole before I went to bed. The next afternoon he wasn't making as much noise and still hadn't made any mark on the outside so I decided to open the air cell shell a little more. His membrane was white but very dry. I'm guessing the humidity had been too low in the incubator. I increased the humidity and put coconut oil on the membrane. I waited a few hours to see if maybe it would soften enough for him to be able to year it. It didn't. I didn't want to rush him out though so went slow with each new assist step. I waited until after breakfast this morning to break any she'll beyond the air cell. Poor guy was apparently very ready to get out though because he practically jumped out of his shell in my hand once I got enough shell off. I was nervous that he rushed but there was no yolk or anything and he seemed quite happy to be able to stretch out.
With the twin egg, I'm hoping if they live to hatch time they'll be able to pip somewhere. I wouldn't want to try to help before they make some sort of noise to let me know they're ready. Or at very least could wiggle the egg a little. I'd probably barf if I cracked an egg open and the baby wasn't done.

 

[MROO]

I'd probably barf if I cracked an egg open and the baby wasn't done.

Years ago, we had an egg break way too early. The only thing we could figure happened was that one of the cats got overly curious. Regardless, the egg split almost completely open and poor little Hathaway was left drying out with a big yolk sac to absorb. We kept him damp in a little plastic bowl for three days, and he didn't move. Then one morning, there he was, peeping for breakfast! So, even if your egg opens up early, don't panic (and don't barf!) Just log back in and start asking questions!

 

[MROO]

You are NOT PLAYING FAIR! We need BABY PICTURES!

 

[KCNC06]

That's wonderful to hear that you were able to save Hathaway! I'll definitely reach out if we have issues. I think I'm most scared that the twin egg will be gross because it's twins. I'm not sure how I'll handle it if it's conjoined. My sister is hoping it's conjoined twins and wants me to give it to her. Anyway, I guess maybe I'll surprise myself. We have a bantam hen who got brutally attacked by roosters a couple months ago. She had a fairly large "chunk" of skin missing. It looked like...well, skinless chicken meat on her back behind her wing. I didn't think she'd survive. It was so, so nasty. If I still ate meat, seeing that would have been enough to put an end to meat for me. Thankfully I have extensive first aid kits for my human and animal family members. I cleaned her wound and put EMT ointment on it. Slowly, day by day she regrew her skin. She now has all her feathers back but she's so stinking spoiled I doubt we could convince her to move back out with the fowl. She has a playpen outside but sprints to the bathroom when she needs to lay an egg because she'll only lay her egg in the bathroom sink.
As for Bill Bill, this guy is WILD and CRAZY! We've had quite a few ducks over the years. We currently have 10 adults. We had mallard's hatch eggs a few years ago then I brought the ducklings inside to brood so they wouldn't get eaten by snakes or something. This was the first time I had eggs in the house though and Bill Bill is the first duckling I was able to talk to in an egg for such a long time. I have a hard time believing he actually recognizes my voice because that's just too amazing, but he goes absolutely nutso when I talk to him. He cries in his brooder box and jumps so high I can hear him hitting the hardware cloth lid (his box is about 11" tall). When I hold him, he runs up to my face and bites all over my face and neck. I've never had a duckling bite this much. When I say his name he seems to get more excited and tries to bite my mouth. I brought him into the bathroom to see the big ducklings. He sat in my hands peeping but the 8 didn't seem to care about him at all. They were probably still pouting because I shooed them out of the shower again this morning.

 

[KCNC06]

I've been trying to get a good picture of Bill Bill but he's so stinking wild! The only time he stays somewhat still is when he's bitting my face!

 

[Miss Lydia]

He’s a cutie!!

 

[MROO]

I've been trying to get a good picture of Bill Bill but he's so stinking wild! The only time he stays somewhat still is when he's bitting my face!

It sounds like it's video time!

 

[KCNC06]

A few of the big 8. (I'm wearing shorts, this isn't really a shower pic!)

 

[KCNC06]

It sounds like it's video time!

I tried that too but he runs away so fast! I've never seen a duckling this young with this much energy.