I just heard cheeping...

[Scottishnewbie]

oh i am so excited! it is day 25 for my duck eggs so was taking out the dividers to give space for any that want to hatch......and i heard cheeping!! Dont think i;ve been this excited for a very long time!

[its hilly]

Apologies in advance, but does that mean you are getting cheep thrills?

[Scottishnewbie]

Apologies in advance, but does that mean you are getting cheep thrills?

LOL! But yes it does!!!

[Snadger]

I thought ducks quacked!

[Nicos]

Oi!!...wake up...get up- and check them!!!! ( what are you doing asleep when there are chicks hatching??!!)

...how are they doing?- nice Easter Sunday surprise eh????

[matthew2riches]

Any news yet???

[Nicos]

Any news yet???

Clearly too busy playing with them!!!!

[Scottishnewbie]

still hearing the odd cheep and now can see that four of the shells have wee dents in them!!! i take it that i need to make sure there is ample water in the reservoirs to keep the egg shells soft?

still no lambs though.....have had serious words with the ewes though!

[Nicos]

It's great fun nipping back and checking on them isn't it????

fingers crossed they all make it- and good luck with the lambs!!

[Scottishnewbie]

so the update is....

i stopped turning yesterday, put water in the reservoir and today i see that 4 of the eggs have started pipping (is that what you call it when they start to peck through?)

they've been at it for ages and not made much progress. i dont want to intervene too soon but i dont want to leave it too late and let them die. so what do i do now?

do i wet the shells to make them softer?
do i add extra water?
do i mist the eggs?
do i help pick the shells off at any point?

i dont have a humidity meter so i can only do what i do by hand....all and any advice gratefully received!!!!!

[Shellintons]

Aw I miss my ducks But noisy things they were at 3am in th morning
I have never hatched them though, so am unsure if it is much different to hen eggs. I know some of the orps I hatched last year took a full 24 hours to hatch and they are all running riot in my garden now and laying too, so it didn't do them any harm. They are big birds though. Hopefully someone with more experience duck hatching will be along soon.
Good luck, I am keeping my fingers crossed.
btw, which type have you got?

[Polly Fouracre]

Ducklings do take their time hatching and you should try not to interfere too soon, hard as it is--the temptation to take off just a wee bit of shell is strong!
Keep the humidity up but don't mist the eggs, you may drown the duckling!!
If you do help the shell off take care not to tear the membrane inside, you may go too far and kill or disable the duck. Only help that off if it is completely dry and then very carefully.
Good luck, I hope they all hatch successfully.

[Scottishnewbie]

thanks folks! it is soooo stressful. got up this morning fully expecting to see a few wee fluffy bundles....but none yet. this is worse than being pregnant and waiting to go into labour!

can still hearing chirping and the odd tapping but no progress on shell breaking really. so i'll not interfere and just wait for wonderful mother nature to do her stuff.......

i've put some more water into the reservoir so hopefully the humidity will be plenty high without being too much and i'll just sit here on the end of the sofa waiting!!!! in between popping out to see if the sheep have finally lambed!

I'll you, this animal husbandy malarkey is exhausting!!!!!

PS - they are aylesburys

[dexterdoglancashire]

Good luck. Can't wait to hear your good news - and to see the photos as well of course.

[Scottishnewbie]

nothing yet - is it normal to take this long?