poor jemima. Hope your others are still strong 
Thanks... We think Jemima died from an infection, her eyes looked abnormally big and puffy around the edges, quite different to the other two. ( God only knows from where because we are paying close attention to sterilising and cleaning as always )
Ooty is going for it. not shy, loud and proud and a wee climber, intent on trying to get to the top of your head whenever he/she/it is placed in ones lap. Eating and drinking and pooing no prob. Full of energy
Bali is a bit quieter, although he/she/it goes through the process of pecking im not convinced she/he/it is getting enough. She is not interested in chick crumb, but definately has a go at the smashed up hard boiled egg yolk and gluscose water from time to time. Bali is the first duckling I have met that doesn't put the head back after a drink. This has had me scratching my head. There seems to be much more egg residue on these two from birth, it had caked hard on Bali's neck and side of head, we are slowly wiping it off with a kitchen towel dipped in warm water. I wonder if this is why the wee soul is not putting her/his head back. I wonder if it has been making swallowing difficult.?
In view of this and the fact we lost one last night Bali is on a two hour supplemental feeding cycle ( 0.5cc warm liquid egg yolk. ) They both get a we wipe with warm water at the same time. The residue is slowly shifting.
We have started weighing Bali to determine if she is making headway. 47.0 grams, Dosnt seem much considering the size of the eggs!
She/he does seem to have more energy now, peeping away to Ooty, wagging her tail and preening after each wipe down. So sofar we are winning
I haven't witnessed Bali pooing yet... I am keeping my eyes open for this.
We have been beating ourselves up over the weak state of Bali and Jemima and have come to several conclusions.
1. Don't buy your eggs from ebay through the post. There are too many variables. You dont really know the health or nutrition of the parent stock, ( many of these eggs where infertile ) and better not putting the eggs at the mercy of our postal service. ( These eggs arrived shook up, One broken others with air pockets detached )
2. Try not raise your ducklings out of season.
3. Check check and check again your incubator, or better, use the help of a sitting Mum and have the incy standing by just incase.
4. Do buy from recommended breeders ( Indian Runner Duck Association have a list ), Collect the eggs, ( or better still young ducklings ) in the car... Although there are logistic problems with keeping them warm, that should be a huge issue.
Needless to say if we add anymore to our flock we will be buying from a IRDA recommended breeder and going to get them ourselves. and it wont be till late spring. Probably just after the mallards start hatching on the riverbank.
Hindsight is a wonderfull thing....
Our big girls (
GIRLS!!!
) are wonderful, "Vasilly" ( Yes, its a mans name but it has stuck ) is a pure bred white, "Kroshka" and "Bigyin" ( Runner Trouts ) are loving life, they are very cozy in their wendy house, They love taking a bath in the paddling pool ( ARGOS £3.99 ) and even come for walks with us away up the trail and into the fields.
We love them and wouldn't swap them for the world!
