January to February 2024 Duckling Hatch-Along!

[Luv Ducks]

It’s update time (5)

@ElfenLied89 and @Antiocheggers Quack Sparrow has gone into lockdown They’ve begun rocking and shadowing. No internal pip quite yet, but that’s alright.

@2ndTink Quacker Jack gave me quite a scare this morning, as I saw a bright, clear patch in the egg, but I turned a little farther and saw it was just a spot for some veins They are doing just fine

@Sally PB Lincoln @Luv Ducks Tinker Bell @tlcmurphy Egg 31 and @GreenJay Lucky Duck are all too dark for me to see anything, other than some small movements and veining near their air cells. Looks like everyone is right on track!

Also, here’s some more pictures of Laffy, Peach, Prickly, Banana, and Guava + my adult ducks

Laffy has been peep-honking for a little while now - maybe she will be a girl after all?
View attachment 3738867

Couldn’t be more relaxed than this
View attachment 3738869

Sweet Peachy and I hanging out
View attachment 3738872

I think they might like each other, just a little bit
View attachment 3738870
View attachment 3738873

I still can’t get over how pretty they all are
View attachment 3738874

And my good boy Cherry guarding the nest
View attachment 3738875

Our last 6 eggs are still going strong! May they all hatch! The next update will be on Tuesday, February 6th

Thanks for the update, Go Tinker Bell Go!!! Your Duckies are all beautiful!!!!!

 

[tlcmurphy]

Are any of the other babies crested?

 

[Luv Ducks]

Update time (4)

I will preface by saying that this update is a little sad It will get better, though

————————————————

@QueenofKings I’m sorry to say that Turmeric didn’t make it. 24+ hours after internal pip, they hadn’t made an external pip, so I gave them a safety hole. They were fine for many hours, but sometime during the night, the poor baby accidentally covered their safety hole with their body, and they didn’t have the egg tooth to make a new pip

@NagemTX The same thing happened to Howard. I gave them a safety hole, and during the night, the baby accidentally covered the hole. However, they weren’t in the right position to make a new pip - it was almost like an in between of a normal positioning and “bill away from air cell.” They had an egg tooth. If only they’d been positioned right

Turmeric was a bright yellow, like Laffy, and Howard a bit darker, like Peach. I’ve laid them both to rest together in my front yard. May they rest in peace.

I feel pretty bad that I wasn’t there to help, but I can’t really fault myself for being asleep, either I really thought they’d be okay.

One thing that’s made me feel better, though, is a few hours later, I had some friends visit my lake - TWO friends.
View attachment 3736920

I’d like to believe this is Turmeric and Howard visiting in spirit. They stuck around for a couple minutes before taking off.

————————————————

Whew.. on a brighter note, the other 3 eggs have hatched just fine

@ElfenLied89 and @Nero70002 Michael Quackson was the first to hatch! They were given a safety hole after not pipping in time. 24 hours later, I did a partial assist to check out their progress, and they still had a little bit of veining + were chewing, so I gave them time to rest. A couple hours later, they were clearly trying to zip, but I noticed they had no egg tooth, so I ended up having to finish the hatch for them. I’ve given them the official name of Prickly Pear, but they will always be Michael Quackson in spirit!
View attachment 3736935

@Debbie292d Egg 21 was the first to pip, but second to hatch. 36 hours after their initial pip, they hatched all by themself with no assistance necessary! Such a strong ducky. I’ve given them the name Banana Split.
View attachment 3736936

@fluffycrow Egg 19 was also given a safety hole. 27 hours later, I did a partial assist, and they were clearly not ready yet. Super strong veining + chewing, so I gave them a lot of time to rest. They sat still for a whopping 16 hours before finally attempting to hatch. They did a lot of work, but got stuck part way, so I finished the hatch for them. I’ve given them the name Guava Marmalade.
View attachment 3736940

And of course, pictures of them all dried off
View attachment 3736966

First meeting with Laffy and Peach
View attachment 3736967

Laffy trying to steal the show
View attachment 3736968

Also, if you’re curious, I am working on drawings for each of the new ducklings, but I haven’t gotten around to finishing them yet. I’ll make a new post later today / tomorrow with the drawings.

One extra picture of Laffy and Peach - I think this is my favorite one so far!
View attachment 3736969

As for the remaining eggs

@ElfenLied89 and @Antiocheggers Quack Sparrow is looking really good! They’re definitely getting close to lockdown

@2ndTink Quacker Jack is looking fantastic. They have all the strong veining you could ask for.

@Sally PB Lincoln is doing great! I don’t know if it was a vein or what, but it looked like Lincoln was waving to me from inside the egg

@Luv Ducks Tinker Bell is really kicking! We have a lot of strong duckies here

@tlcmurphy Egg 31 is looking pretty good. Still has that great veining from last time.

@GreenJay Lucky Duck is getting a bit harder to see veining - makes me think they are the most progressed

6 more eggs are on their way. May they all hatch! The next update will be on Friday, February 2nd

Thanks so much for this update. I just today got my first notice about them so I am behind in rooting them on. It's great that so many have made it so far.

 

[Antiocheggers]

Go Quacker Jack! But stop scaring Miss Kathi!

Wow, so adorable, that little crest on Laffy is just too much

Your adults are gorgeous too

Hooray!!!

 

[Antiocheggers]

Thanks for the update, Go Tinker Bell Go!!! Your Duckies are all beautiful!!!!!

Go Quacker Jack Yay!

 

[Luv Ducks]

Good morning duckies! Come join the party #31!

Sorry I have been missing, I didn't get any notices until today. I am just thrilled that Tinker Bell is doing well!!!! Thank you so much.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Are any of the other babies crested?

No, doesn’t look like it. I’ve gotten 9 babies total from this drake so far, and only Laffy is crested. So much for it being 50 / 50 Maybe some of the remaining eggs will have it

Thanks so much for this update. I just today got my first notice about them so I am behind in rooting them on. It's great that so many have made it so far.

Yeah, I’ve been having some notification trouble too, don’t worry about it. And Tinker Bell knows you’re rooting for her - I told her

 

[Antiocheggers]

this is for you Quack Sparrow! You can do it!

 

[Luv Ducks]

No, doesn’t look like it. I’ve gotten 9 babies total from this drake so far, and only Laffy is crested. So much for it being 50 / 50 Maybe some of the remaining eggs will have it

Yeah, I’ve been having some notification trouble too, don’t worry about it. And Tinker Bell knows you’re rooting for her - I told her

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

 

[2ndTink]

Shake a tail feathers Quacker Jack! Keep on growing!