***update*** babies-more PICS added

[chickenlisa]

too sad...1 of the almost all the way zipped eggs was dark,wet looking around the zip line and the baby was still peeping. Its head was tipped upside down and aiming out from under its wing, but it was still able to pip/zip most of the way around. It was peeping so loudly, I had to go outside so I wouldn't do anything to interfere. When I came in 1/2 hour later, I checked to see its progress. It wasn't peeping or moving any, but I thought it was tired and sleeping. but even when the other ducklings were climbing all over it and kissing its bill, it didn't move at all. I feared the worst, and took the egg out to see, sure enough, the baby was all the way formed, but the yolk wasn't absorbed all the way, and it had swallowed some of it(?) because its mouth was full of sticky, yellowish stuff and it had died covered with that. How sad,

, some of the others had their heads upside down like that too, but managed to push hard with their backs to pop the top of the shell off and then struggle out. I have already disposed of it, my kids will be home from school in a little over an hour-I didn't want them to see that.I have to focus on the healthy active adorable 6 that are in there and the other pipping ones still wanting to come out.
Lisa

:|

all emotions all at once

 

[sunnychooks]

I'm sorry about your poor little one. But the other six should keep you busy!!! How many more to go?
More pics please!!!!!

 

[chickenlisa]

There are 2 more out now- both look black, but maybe all Swedish or part Cayuga too- their bills and feet are soooo black they remind me of the Cayugas. They -all 8- are doing great. There are 2 who have pipped enough to be sticking their bills out of the shell and membrane, but I don't see strong pipping going on, plus a bit of blood at the edges of where they pipped. So I've taken a papertowel for each one and wet it with warm water and wrapped it mostly around it over the open area, not totally to block all air, but to stop the others from trampling on it and to help it stay moist a bit longer in hopes that tomorrow it may be just simmered long enough to hatch and be healthy. None of the chicken eggs have pipped yet. And I have 8 more duck eggs in that bator. 1 with a definite pip in it, but 7 that I' can't see well as they are along the center, under the fan and heater.

I'm still wondering if I should take the 1- 2 day old ones out tomorrow after school, so there is more room and less trampling of the eggs. These babies are all over inside there.Very active, esp the ones who hatched yesterday and this morning.

We will be selling a few of them once we know how many we have in all...probably pickup only...Warren County NJ. Pm me if you know you'll want any. Also if you know if its ok to put the older ones in the brooder tomorrow night. They'd be 1-2 days old then.
Lisa

 

[chickenlisa]

10 ducklings now are out with 3 more trying to get out and others are pipped. Also 3 chicken eggs have pipped that I can see. Oh what a relief! I thought I had the humidity so high for the ducks to hatch that the chickens might all die....well, they aren't out yet, but at least there is hope still.
I got another blue duckling too! Yay!

 

[chickenlisa]

11 healthy ones out now- but a sad event too...1 was hatched after a long time (36 hrs at least? )of being in its egg with its head caught under its wing and so much struggling...today it was breathing slower and it just seemed wet and sticky still. I did not interfere, as I had to go to work. Well, it did hatch once I got home a few min after 3 pm, but was being beat up by all the others. its neck was still bent like it was in the shell, and it had no control over its body. i think it had neurological problems...so we culled it. My 17 yr old son is a hunter quickly grabbed it out and took care of it humanely. Sad though.
More happy happy joy joy news...a Turken X EE baby chick hatched while I was out. Its mostly yellow with a black spot on the back of its head. Is that a marker for boy or girl or just a little cute black spot on its yellow head? I'll add pix later-this is a come home, change/pack soccer equipment/piano music and go flying out the door soon after kind of day. We did move the 8 strongest ducklings into the brooder b/c they were badly bothering todays new hatches. There are 3 ducklings and 1 chick in the incubator now...with at least 4 more eggs pipped. Another update later on...stay tuned for more news after 6 pm.
Lisa

 

[SamG347]

I would remove the dryed ducklings and place them in a brooder. I know people say to wait until all the chicks have hatched....but I have never had a problem in any of my hatches. Just as long as you dont leave the lid off....just open...grab...close. And repeat.
Good Luck and beautiful ducklins!

 

[chickenlisa]

Thanks
did that and temp in brooder is 94.9 and they are all eating and drinking...will post pix soon. Baby ducklings and 1 "little spot" chick are all fine in baotr with at least 4 more chicken eggs pipped and at least 3 more duck eggs pipped. Out of 19 duck eggs- 11 healthy ones already hatched and 2 that died...not too bad in my book for a first timer, as long as some more of these hatch into healthy critters.

Lisa

 

[chickenlisa]

here are those pix....

Little Spot has the naked neck of her daddy but the cheek tufts of her mommy! How adorable is that? 2 more blue ducklings today...the one is darker than the others, but not black either. Interesting colors...
Lisa
BTW- I like to talk to myself sometimes in real life too. This is a running dialogue/monologue/journal for me to refer back to.

 

[ginbart]

Boy are you doing good. I love the pics of the ducks. I'm a chiken person myself but if I keep looking at your pics I may change my mind. But I had no pond where I live.

Congrads and enjoy them.

 

[chickenlisa]

no pond here either. Baby pools thrill them! I'd love to have a pond though, but I do love knowing they are safe from any predators inside a big pen with their baby pool inside it. Ducks are so much fun, I love them. The Drakes are much nicer than alot of roosters I've known. If you change your mind, some of the babies will be for sale. Don't know what to sell them for yet though. The longer I keep them and feed them, the higher it will be probably.
Lisa