Author Topic: Ducking the issue (Read 3176 times)

hexhammeasure · « **on:** July 01, 2008, 11:19:52 pm »

Well would you believe it!!. We waited and waited for a duck to start sitting on a nest somewhere. And nothing.... so we put a dozen eggs in the incubator and ... yup you guessed it one duck hasn't come home tonight. Hopefully she'll turn up in a month with all the little duckies in tow. maybe I'll have some ducks spare for christmas

hexhammeasure · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2008, 01:21:40 am »

I don't believe it!! (in victor meldew style)
8 new ducklings and they all appear to be ducks not drakes!!. Is this a record??

pigsatlesrues · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2008, 09:51:23 am »

Well done you - I am gutted here - I found a nest of a dozen eggs here laid by one of our Polish hens, and at the 11th hour she has abandoned them. I am so annoyed because I have just had two broody hens which I kept in rabbit hutches during the incubations period and both hatched successfully. They had crosses of varying kinds because we haven't had a chance to set up runs/houses exclusively for the different kinds, but the Polish were pure - all the eggs were identical. I didn't even notice her being broody, and we only found the nest because our friends who are staying brought them in thinking they were newly laid. They, I have to say didn't disturb her, they were well cold. I had the awful experience of cracking one open just to see what stage they were at and at a guess I would say a few days off of hatching. This is the second lot of Polish eggs we have lost. The Turkey ate the last batch which is why I started putting the broodies in rabbit hutches. Oh well next year - it will come soon enough, and hopefully we will be more successful with our 'pures'.

Well done again anyway.

Kate