Are you brooding these ducklings in a set up that has been used before? What is the size and material of the brooder including bedding? What are you using for a heat source? What temperature is the brooder? Coolest, hottest?
I have raised many Ducklings both in brooders and with their duck mothers. Ducklings drink a lot and is normal to have liquid poo.
Ducklings are ready to be off heat before their feathers come in. They feather much slower than chickens, but can regulate their own body temperature much sooner...
We have Silkies and Standard hens. I find Silkies to be just as hardy day to day as standards, but there life span is shorter. I have had standard hens live more than 10 years, but 8 years would be longer than any of my silkies have lived.
Yes it is nervous. It could be nervous of the outside world or it maybe nervous of the other chickens. Was this bird in the same place (pen) as the others before you got it? How long ago did you get them? When all the birds are in the coop does it come off the roost and interact with its...
It sounds like you plan to leave birds where they are, but I will write how we handle broodies.
We move all broodies to dog crates and shut them in. Since we have quite a few we give each hen about 4 fresh eggs to make sure the eggs start at the same time. We use to try moving at night since...
If the egg cracked do to a toenail ect., it is normal for the chickens to clean up the egg. If chickens are eating uncracked eggs take a close look at their nutrition. If they are getting a balanced diet, Add extra Calcium and extra protein.
Since it is from the hatchery then it is pretty safe to assume that this is still a Marans just blue instead of black. (Very unlikely to get a rare breed that the hatchery does not sell) As far as gender it is likely male, but at six weeks some female Marans can get this much...
From the description I would guess it was something that happened to the single chick, but just in case watch for chicks sleeping more, not eating well or unusual poo.
Make sure you double check the temperature that your incubator says vs. the actual temperature at the top of the eggs. Humidity has a bit more flexible. I have seen suggestions between 30-55 before lock down. The eggs should loose moisture. I dry hatch in a fairly humid environment. For...
Another source of calcium is feeding the egg shells back to the flock. It is not enough as the soul source, but might be enough when combined with the layer food being given.
This time of year drakes are at the peak of breeding season. They will pair off with duck hens if they were brooded with only ducks and have enough hens to pair with. If they were brooded with chickens, sometimes they are just as likely to try to get a chickens attention as a duck hens...
I don't know if your turken is dual purpose or of the meat variety, but it definitely sounds like heart issues. I am unaware of anything that can be done for her at this point. It may benefit the others to be fed like meat birds (kept for breeding) to lessen the chances of it happening to the...