Recent content by LydiaB

So I have an interesting observation I have made from 2 straight run hatches so far. At about 3-4 weeks, you can tell who is male of female by size. Now, you would think larger=boy. But it’s actually the opposite. I have successfully figured out genders just by looking to see who is bigger-...

I did 3 days for my duck hatch. Last to hatch was day 29.

I have a mixture. Welsh harlequin, Cayuga, Ancona, white layer, khaki Campbell, Rouen, and blue Swedish. I have 17 ducklings that are a mix of those as well. 6 are pure Ancona.

How are you liking your borotto? I have one too! I hope all the ducklings hatch! I love my call- I had 5 but they tend to fly off 😢 so now I’m sticking with full size.

I’m pretty sure the breeder did not have black Swedish. It wasn’t mentioned as a possibility.

I only have one incubator and am planning to hatch chickens and ducks together. I know to start the ducks a week before the chickens. Here are my questions: I cool and mist the duck eggs days 8-25. Is that okay for the chicken eggs or do I remove the duck eggs from the incubator for that...

I love the different colors you got!

well, don’t choose. Keep them all. 😂

I have a welsh harlequin and had others in the past. All calm, sweet ducks. Lay well and are pretty. I haven’t had any of the other breeds you listed.

I generally keep them separated until the ducklings are no longer kitty bait (3-4 weeks). If you don’t have barn cats they may be okay right away. Mama won’t let anyone mess with her babies. But cats are sneakier than other ducks.

Yes. I may order fertile eggs next year. We shall see.

I don’t have Muscovy, but when I have a broody she keeps them warm quite well after hatching. It’s my favorite way to raise ducklings. Low maintenance 😁 I once had a Rouen hatch and raise to adulthood 15 babies.

I’m trying a Borotto as a step up from a little giant styrofoam one. First hatch was ducks with just under 50% hatch rate. But the egg turner quit and I didn’t catch it right away to manually turn (I sent the motor back for a free replacement under warranty).

I don’t have any written plans sadly. Grandpa is a master carpenter and it was a lot of “measure this, cut, adjust angle, whala!”

I love Dutch hookbills so much! I’d totally get some if I wasn’t still training my LGD to ducks (oddly, the older one has been chicken safe over a year and until recently was very much not duck safe. He’s finally snapping out of it). Yours are beautiful.