I woke to the sound of many sirens around midnight, a building caught fire across the valley. Suddenly power goes out. 4 fresh ducklings and no heat lamp, no power to the incubator. Knowing there wasn't going to be power for hours I didnt have many options.
I wrapped a blanket over the incubator and cuddled the ducklings in the dark. Time was ticking in my mind and I knew the longer I waited the colder the eggs in the incubator would get. I decided that rather than loose all my eggs (almost 4 dozen call duck eggs) without an attempt to keep them going, I'd take them out of the incubator And placed them in an old hoodie, then wrap them in a blanket and use the only weapon for this situation I had... Body heat. I placed the bundle of call duck eggs on my lap, cuddled the 4 fresh ducklings in my hands and had a blanket on top of everything to keep us all warm and sat in the silent darkness with my ducklings and hopefully ducklings to be. Fear of squished ducklings and eggs kept me awake during the 4.5 hours of dark silence, with only the odd peep of the little ones warm in my hands.
So happy the power is back on, that was a long night. I only lost the very freshest duckling who had only been under the lamp for one day and I wasn't sure if it was going to make it to begin with. When I placed the eggs back in the incubator they were toasty warm.. Have my fingers crossed for survivors. I will candle tonight to see the egg results. Thankfully the older ducklings were ok because it was warm in here and they aren't long before moving out to the barn.
Ducklings all had breakfast and my coffee is ready for me now. Still have to get everyone off to school and work, then barn chores... And then it will be time for shut eye for this momma duck.
I wrapped a blanket over the incubator and cuddled the ducklings in the dark. Time was ticking in my mind and I knew the longer I waited the colder the eggs in the incubator would get. I decided that rather than loose all my eggs (almost 4 dozen call duck eggs) without an attempt to keep them going, I'd take them out of the incubator And placed them in an old hoodie, then wrap them in a blanket and use the only weapon for this situation I had... Body heat. I placed the bundle of call duck eggs on my lap, cuddled the 4 fresh ducklings in my hands and had a blanket on top of everything to keep us all warm and sat in the silent darkness with my ducklings and hopefully ducklings to be. Fear of squished ducklings and eggs kept me awake during the 4.5 hours of dark silence, with only the odd peep of the little ones warm in my hands.
So happy the power is back on, that was a long night. I only lost the very freshest duckling who had only been under the lamp for one day and I wasn't sure if it was going to make it to begin with. When I placed the eggs back in the incubator they were toasty warm.. Have my fingers crossed for survivors. I will candle tonight to see the egg results. Thankfully the older ducklings were ok because it was warm in here and they aren't long before moving out to the barn.
Ducklings all had breakfast and my coffee is ready for me now. Still have to get everyone off to school and work, then barn chores... And then it will be time for shut eye for this momma duck.
