We managed to hatch two duckies out of eight eggs.  These two were no trouble at all and were very independent from the start.  Apart from the feeding for the first few days, they paid scant attention to us and were out with the guinea pigs in three days.  It’s getting easier being a duckie parent!!

We didn’t consider this a successful hatch since we were hoping for at least a 50% hatch rate.  Gnome reckons that he sprayed the eggs with water, once, early on in development and thinking back, he feels that the cold temperature of the water may have destroyed the delicate embryos.  This is what Gnome said:

“I read about this recommendation to spray eggs with cold water  on the Internet.  The moral of this story is never believe everything you read on the Internet…it could cost you a duckie or more!”

These two splashed about in water together and splatted food  all around the aquarium.  By three days, they were so independent (and messy) that we decided that they were ready for the guinea pig crèche.

Duckie 1: this one is a lighter coloured duckie with hardly any dark markings. Birth weight 49g.

Duckie 2: the birth weight for this one was also 49g but nevertheless looks bigger.  Gnome says it is because he fluffed up a bit more so he gives the appearance of being larger.

Duckies:

“Oi Munchkin and Gnome!  Just feed us.  Apart from that we can entertain ourselves by splashing about in food and water and making a mess.  Thanks a bunch!!”

“…you just need to clean up after us…”

So the plan for these duckies is to feed them up in the comfortable environment of the Guinea pig cage.  Once they get to about 4 to 6 weeks (ie. too big for the cat to mistake as food) we hope to get them out foraging with the older one which is now about 12 weeks old.