After how many days do ducklings hatch under a duck: hatching time and number of chicks

A good farmer cares not only about the welfare of his animals, but also that they bring profit through offspring. It is much more pleasant to raise your own bird than bought one. High rates for meat belong to ducks, but it is not easy to breed these wayward birds. In order to get a he althy offspring every season, you need to know how many days ducklings of different breeds hatch under a duck, and what affects these terms.

When and how many ducks hatch eggs

To breed the first ducklings, the bird must be at least 5-6 months old, but ducks in the second year of life have the highest productivity. Although they live up to 20 years under good conditions, after 6-7 years the quality of the eggs deteriorates.

Females are active in spring and early summer. Although in some individuals the instinct is so developed that they can sit on the nest in the middle of winter. From mid-April, the bird begins to intensively prepare for motherhood.

Ducks pluck fluff from their chest and line their future nest. They behave calmly, spend less and less time with the flock, and more in the future nest.

On average, in one clutch there are from 8 to 15 eggs, but at the peak of activity it reaches 20. It all depends on the age and type of bird. During this period, the expectant mother should be provided with proper nutrition and access to fresh drinking water and an ash bath to clean feathers from parasites.

Ducks lay one egg a day. The process takes place at night, from 2 to 4 in the morning. It is important that no one disturb or frighten the hen at this moment, otherwise she will leave the masonry. In general, it is better not to disturb the bird during the entire incubation, and any manipulations with the nest should be carried out only in the absence of a hen.

After how many days do ducklings hatch

In the wild, birds incubate their eggs for about a month. Domestic individuals hatch chicks after 26-36 days.

1. Indo-datka, musky or mute - from 30 to 35 days.
2. Peking Duck - 27 to 29 days.
3. Bashkir duck - approximately 26-28 days.

Ducklings hatch gradually. This process should be closely monitored. When the mother leaves to eat and stretch her paws, the nest needs to be cleaned of debris, shells and dead chicks (if any). It is better to take little ducklings to the house for a few days so that their mother does not accidentally crush them.

Ducklings are placed in a warm box, where the bottom is lined with a soft cloth. The temperature there must be maintained within 26-29 degrees.

If necessary, you can put other people's eggs under the duck, but carefully. The bird accepts all ducklings if they get to it gradually. When the whole brood has hatched, then after 2-3 days, the mother takes them for a walk and teaches them to eat, drink and clean feathers.

What could affect timing?

Anything can become an obstacle to breeding he althy young animals.

1. The duck is still inexperienced, and she could not sit the clutch properly, as a result, half of the eggs died. Such a bird is not used as a hen until next year.
2. Egg temperature is the main indicator of he althy offspring. If the clutch spends more than an hour and a half without a mother, then the embryos, at best, will form later, and at worst, they will stop developing altogether. The weather plays an important role here. If the season is hot, then this is "on hand" for the eggs, they will cool more slowly.
3. Duck, for unknown reasons, just threw the clutch. In this case, the eggs are transferred to the incubator, if little time has passed since the hen left, then the chicks should hatch at the same time.
4. Excessive manipulation of eggs can also lengthen the incubation period. It is advisable not to touch the masonry unnecessarily and keep other birds away from it.
5. The breed of duck, its age and experience play an indirect role in the timing of hatching. However, this fact must also be taken into account.

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