Showing posts with label hatching ducks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hatching ducks. Show all posts

Wednesday, 8 August 2018

How To Hatch Ducks The Right Way

August 08, 2018 0


Last week we talk about hatching chicken eggs.  This week we will talk about the differences and similarities of duck eggs.

The real truth is that they are way more similar than most people make out.  Think about it, ducks eggs are hatched by chickens all the time with the same effect as ducks hatching them.  As long as you keep the temperature at 37.5°C and do the following you will hatch healthy ducklings.



Humidity


Now, most people will tell you that ducks need much higher humidity than chickens.  The problem is that ducks being under a chicken are completely normal without that humidity.  So, I decided to start hatching my duck eggs with no extra water added and they hatched perfectly every time!  I must say, I usually hatch Call ducks which I hatch the exact same way and they have never been any more difficult to hatch than chickens or other duck eggs.



Schedule


Before - Mark air sacs of eggs and mark X on one side of the egg and O on the other.

Days 1-3 - 'lockdown' Do not open the incubator or turn eggs.

Days 4-24 (or 23 for Call Ducks) - Turn eggs at least 3 times per day, candle at day 7 then every week from then on to check on development and mark air sac.

Days 25-28 (or 24 - 26 For Call Ducks) - Lockdown, stop turning eggs and opening incubator until the chicks hatch.


*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

Sunday, 29 July 2018

How to Raise Happy and Friendly Ducks

July 29, 2018 0

Whether you want to keep your ducks or sell them to pet homes, you really want your ducks to be happy and friendly for their whole lives.  It makes it much easier to handle them for whatever reason and it just makes them more enjoyable as pets if they will just come up to you!

1.  Handle them daily as babies


If you are hatching your ducks in an incubator it is so easy to get them to think that you are their mum!  I have had ducks follow me around thinking that I was their mum and they have turned into such friendly ducks!

I will handle them as many times a day as I can from the day they are born.  This is the best way to get them used to you touching them as they don't know to be scared of you.



2.  FOOD


Ducks are very greedy animals and they will do anything for it!  Whether your duck is a baby or an adult they will come to notice that you are the person that gives them the food and water that they love.  My ducks eat from my hands and come running from the other side of the field when they see me because they know I have food for them.



3.  Seeing other birds being friendly to you


I found that it really helps to have other chickens and ducks that are friendly if you have an adult duck that you want to tame.  I usually go to a friendly one with food and hand feed them.  It will take some time but they will eventually come over to get the food from your hands.



4.  Never scare them


I never chase my chickens and ducks!  I know by doing this they will only become more scared of me.  I hardly ever catch them by hand unless it's an emergency so that they know they can trust me.  If you want to get them somewhere I just take the food away for half an hour then put the food in the place I want them and they will go.


*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

                                                                                                                          

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