The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: NicandChic on June 22, 2014, 03:38:48 pm

Title: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on June 22, 2014, 03:38:48 pm

Sooo happy with our first home bred ducklings, egg no 1 hatched at 1pm today, the other 3 pipped yesterday and have been making progress, quick photo attached  :love:
Typically Daisy the mum started sitting on a clutch of eggs 3 days ago and is one determined madam, leaving them once a day for a quick splash & some food...here's hoping we're not over run with drakes  :-J

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: Bionic on June 22, 2014, 04:37:57 pm

That's nice.  :thumbsup: I had my first duckling today too  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on June 22, 2014, 06:19:35 pm

Congratulations  :) they are so cute! Can't quite believe the size of the feet already!
That's No2 not long hatched, 2 more to go and were done. This is only the second time we've hatched so really pleased, it's only a cheap £40 incubator no faffing, set the temp, bung some water in job done.

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: HesterF on June 22, 2014, 11:16:47 pm

You're doing well! I've not had the best year with ducks and of the eight I can sex, six are drakes (and they're the only good looking ones too - one female is an accidental hybrid and one a throwback to Mallards!).

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on June 23, 2014, 07:51:33 am

You can guarantee my lot will probably be drakes!  :tired:  ;)
Three ducklings so far just one left to hatch!

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: twizzel on June 23, 2014, 10:28:19 pm

I hatched my 2nd lot of ducks last week- 10 out of 14 hatched, here's hoping for girls. My first hatch from a set of khaki eggs I was given has left me with 4 drakes and 1 duck, and my first hatch of chicks left me with 8 roosters, 2 hens.  :fc: for this lot of ducklings and the other set of chicks I've got!

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on June 23, 2014, 10:35:36 pm

 :fc: twizzel
How early can you tell gender?
I found it quite easy with our first chickens from a couple of days old..the 1 hen stood out a mile.
Any top tips for determining gender in ducks?

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: twizzel on June 24, 2014, 10:15:29 am

Apart from vent sexing, nothing really you can do until 6-8 weeks when they start quacking and drake tail feathers come through. Mine were difficult and it was nearer 8-10 weeks. Bit of a bugger but nothing you can do, so enjoy them until then :)

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: Victorian Farmer on June 24, 2014, 11:03:24 am

À sex link duck ...
Geese have been done ..so let's look into it utilatey of course .I'm into sex link in a big way

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on June 26, 2014, 07:53:04 pm

Mum to my current incubated ducklings is sitting tight on 8 eggs, Ishot out with my tourch earlier while she was having her daily break...and all developing, I only incubated as mum wasn't interested in sitting for more than 1/2 a day! Typical!!!  :rant:

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: Bionic on June 26, 2014, 08:06:55 pm

Mine are growing so fast. Expect yours are as well.

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: NicandChic on July 15, 2014, 12:32:50 pm

Mum Daisy, and her bambinos left to right Crumpet, Hughey, Talladega & Dolly our first incubator hatched ducks  :love: them.

Title: Re: First duck egg has hatched
Post by: Bionic on July 15, 2014, 09:12:22 pm

I love they way they are all lined up  :thumbsup: