Re: Ducklings I always feel a bit emotional when our ducklings lay their first egg, always think they are too young!
Re: Ducklings Ooooo.....well done, Temeraire!! I love that pic. I shall call it 52, subtitled, The Highlighted Egg.
Re: Ducklings I think it is her egg, and the fact that there was no other egg today supports that. Young birds tend to be a bit stop/start at first. If we start getting a reliable supply I'll spray Tassie's bottom with dye to see if we can definitely rule her out.
Re: Ducklings [quote author=Lisa link=topic=3806.msg85870#msg85870 date=1402111931] I love that pic. I shall call it 52, subtitled, The Highlighted Egg. [/quote] It does look rather artistic!
Re: Ducklings Hehe, I like the title too ;D Feel like you should get to eat the egg, Lisa, since you named the girl who (probably) produced it!
Re: Ducklings [quote author=Oberon link=topic=3806.msg85883#msg85883 date=1402123674] Hehe, I like the title too ;D Feel like you should get to eat the egg, Lisa, since you named the girl who (probably) produced it! [/quote] THAT would be an interesting challenge guys
Re: Ducklings There was another egg this morning, laid carelessly in the swimming pond. I found it in the sludge at the bottom when I drained it while cleaning the pen. Ducks are a bit hopeless that way, especially while they're still working out what this laying business is all about. This one is bigger than the last at 58g. I've put this egg and the other one in the nest box to give her a clue about where I'd rather find them
Re: Ducklings By the end of the week you can get baking ! Hope she gets the feel of delivering in the proper place x
Re: Ducklings [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3806.msg86210#msg86210 date=1402206833] She was swimming along and laid an egg? [/quote] Yep, LOL. If they get caught short they just usually just lay where they are and then keep going with whatever they were doing. Not like chickens that seem to feel forcibly compelled to lay in a nest. Ducks have a more relaxed approach to life.
Re: Ducklings [quote author=Oberon link=topic=3806.msg86217#msg86217 date=1402213005] [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3806.msg86210#msg86210 date=1402206833] She was swimming along and laid an egg? [/quote] Yep, LOL. If they get caught short they just usually just lay where they are and then keep going with whatever they were doing. Not like chickens that seem to feel forcibly compelled to lay in a nest. Ducks have a more relaxed approach to life. [/quote] This laying business sounds a bit casual! I rather thought it was a bit more drawn out than "Oh, I need an egg" Pop! "That's better"...
Re: Ducklings It's kind of a case of 'ya gotta go if ya gotta go'. They have some control but not a lot... They can tell when an egg is imminent and generally then seek out a nest, but some don't feel too compelled... Temeraire is just not good yet at reading the signs. The eggs do get cold wherever they lay them. Normally, a wild duck will lay a number of eggs over the course of a week or two and collect them in the nest. Then, when she has enough, she'll stop laying and will sit on them for 28 days till they hatch. Eggs remain very viable for up to ten days after laying and somewhat viable up to two weeks (especially if sat on a little each day while the next one is being laid). The incubation/cell growth thing only really gets going once the egg is up to operating temperature, which is about 37.3 degrees. Until then the 'duckling' is just a white dot on the yolk. When I collect eggs for hatching I keep them in a wine fridge (about 14 degrees) till I'm ready to put them in the incubator. They need to be kept under 20 degrees C till you're ready to go. I'm now sure the eggs are hers. If they were her mother's they'd be full size by now and laid in the nest (her mother is very nest oriented). Today's egg was laid out in the open part of the pen. Not in the water at least!!
Re: Ducklings That is fascinating! I assume she doesn't have a boyfriend yet Other than Obi who is clearly eyeing up the possibilities.
Re: Ducklings Wow...you, go, Temeraire!!! But I could never EAT little 52 ....I feel kinda like a foster-aunt or something!!
