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The Quack Shack
As I understand it, it's recommended to have ducklings under a heat plate for the first 2 or better still 3 weeks, but... - at one week old they already started avoiding the plate (while in the house at 20 C) - now, at almost 2 weeks old, they are sitting around freely away from the hot plate... -
The Quack Shack
We have 12 = 6 + 6 in two containers. After a week they are getting quite strong and inquisitive, trying to figure out how to jump onto the heating plate :) I must say though... I'm beginning to suspect that the "Harlequins have a more peaceful character than Campbells" thing is fake. They are... -
The Quack Shack
Chicken starter crumble, shredded corn, brewer's yeast. Vitamin/mineral powder in water. Heating plates still at max but will start bringing them lower now. -
The Quack Shack
We managed to escape the frost this time :cool: Here's hoping for a serious fruit harvest, unaffected also by summer storms. Had 1500 kg (3000-ish lbs) of apples last year, that was pretty good. The other bush and tree fruit are mostly support players but it's still a good idea to have a bit of... -
The Quack Shack
We keep them in grape troughs (with high walls :) in the kitchen for the first 10-14 days, then off they go to the garage to spend their time in large apple crates. When you come in the garage in the morning and the duck(ling)s are all sitting on the shelves outside of the crates we know it's... -
The Quack Shack
Same here... 24 C over the day yesterday, 8 today, 5 now, -3 forecast in the morning. -
The Quack Shack
2 of the little ones had splayed legs so we did the band aid thing. I took them a while to get used to the setup but now they're walking much better. Man can these ducklings eat. -
The Quack Shack
Why do some have a black spot on the head and tail though... They are all supposed to be WH of good lineage. Well. As long as they turn out happy and calm and provide eggs and pest control it's all good. -
The Quack Shack
It seems now that the poor weak #12 will also make it. That's a lot of ducklings. -
The Quack Shack
I must say I expected the "you can tell Welshie girls/guys apart by bill color when hatched" thing to be more obvious ... Either we have 100% girls or I'm clueless, and I know which is the more likely option... -
The Quack Shack
We made little holes at first and then after a while started removing a good part of the shell. The result is that we now have 12 Welshies: - 9 are in good shape and having a party in a grape trough with a heating plate - 2 are probably going to make it - 1 is probably not going to make it... -
The Quack Shack
That one actually worked out fine .. The one to the left though is the one that made its pip in a non-air-sac location. And even that one was able to hatch. We started with 24 eggs, - lost 8 in the first week, didn't start - lost 2 before lockdown, strange color hues and aroma - lost 2 during... -
The Quack Shack
The first little lady is by now quite vivacious, pokes her bill around, tries to clean herself ... We also have another one :) and others seem to be very much alive, for the most part, except one egg that we opened when we were sure the duckling shows no signs of life and it was definitely... -
The Quack Shack
One little miss duckling hatched :) 1 not really moving, not having high hopes for that one 12 to go -
The Quack Shack
I'm worried because soon it will be 36 hours since the attempted external pips. We are not really seeing any progress vs. 12 hours ago when we made the holes, just some chirping every so often. It is early morning here. I directed some lights at the incubators now as I read that light can... -
The Quack Shack
Status update... The first attempted external pips appeared yesterday afternoon but there has been hardly any progress since except one egg that managed to chip off a little of the shell. Following our experience with last year's Khaki eggs, we intervened to make very small emergency... -
The Quack Shack
We are now in Day 25 and I can maybe see bumps on 2 of the eggs. From previous rounds I would say that tomorrow it gets interesting. 4 now... Boosting humidity from 65 to 75 and fingers crossed. -
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