aaron
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Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 1, 2008 18:37:48 GMT 8
How long does a duck stay fertile after loosing the drake?
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 1, 2008 19:03:10 GMT 8
I hatched eggs that where laid 3 days after my drake died.
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 1, 2008 19:10:43 GMT 8
Just found this on the net Greetings Amanda You asked a very Interesting question . I finally found the answer at the following site. You should visit this site to learn more about avian reproduction: www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/avianreproduction.html Simply put, the female can be without a Drake for a period of 14 days. The reason is because the hen has sperm storage tubules where the hen can store the sperm for a period of 10-14 days. Read below for more information on how the female accomplishes this. Most birds have only one ovary and one oviduct. In early stages of embryonic development, each female bird has two ovaries; only the left one develops into a functional organ. In some birds, such as hawks, the right ovary and oviduct usually develop. A mature ovary looks like a cluster of grapes. and may contain up to 4,000 small ova which can develop into mature ova. With fertilization, the ovum (egg) becomes a developing embryo The embryo passes through the oviduct typically takes about 24 hours (for passerines & most other birds). The demand for calcium to make the egg shell is very high, and so the circulating levels of blood calcium in birds are greatly elevated compared to mammals, typically twice as much. In most birds, only the left ovary and oviduct persist. The ovary enlarges greatly during the breeding season. Active ovaries resemble bunches of tiny grapes -- the developing follicles. The oviduct opens medially to it in a funnel-shaped ostium. Ovulation results in the release of an egg from a mature follicle on the surface of the ovary. The egg, with extensive food reserves in the form of concentric layers of yolk, is picked up by the ostium and ciliary currents carry it into the magnum region. Over a period of about three hours the egg receives a coating of albumen. The egg then passes into the isthmus, where the shell membranes are deposited. This takes about one hour. The egg them moves to the uterus, or shell gland, where the calcareous shell is added and, in some birds, pigment is added in characteristic patterns. The egg then passes into the girl thingy and cloaca for laying. Near the junction of the girl thingy and shell gland of female birds are deep glands lined with simple columnar epithelium. These are the sperm storage tubules, so called because they can store sperm for long periods of time (10 days to 2 weeks). After an egg is laid, some of these sperm may move out of the tubules into the lumen of the tract, then migrate farther up to fertilize another egg. Fertilization of the egg usually occurs in the infundibulum. A chicken's egg can remain in a nest for days, without any outside heat and stay alive. A hen gives her first 12 eggs (this number varies) no care at all until number 13 is laid and then she begins incubation. Once the hen decides to incubate (we're not sure exactly what tells her she now has "enough" eggs) and the embryo starts developing,however, the egg must remain relatively warm or it will not continue development and will die. This arrangement allows all of the chicks to hatch at the same time rather than having the first chick hatch 13 days, for example, ahead of the last chick - pretty neat! www.enaturalist.org/topic.htm?topic_ID=5
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aaron
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 1, 2008 19:20:09 GMT 8
Thanks so much fluffychook that is exactly what I was after. im still in with a chance then as I lost my drake about 5 days ago and Im getting eggs everyday. Cheers Aaron
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Post by Duck Diva on Dec 2, 2008 6:03:04 GMT 8
Hey Aaron, sorry to hear you lost your drake Hope you get some bubs from the eggs. Cheers, Wendy
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 2, 2008 6:59:34 GMT 8
Sorry to hear about your drake, we only had ours for 1 week and were devastated. What breed was he?
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aaron
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 3, 2008 16:06:32 GMT 8
Thanks for you kind thoughts, He was a Khaki Campbell. I only had him for about 6 months and can only asume that a fox got him as he was out quite late one night. The pen is totally fox proof but I wandered down after dark to lock them up one night and he was either still out or allready gone but the result was still the same. I will let you know how I go with the eggs, unfortunately she didnt lay any the last 2 days so my time is running out. Will keep you posted Aaron
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 4, 2008 11:14:01 GMT 8
Horrid foxes. They cause such havoc, pain and suffering. I too have lost animals to them and I live in suburbia. Hopefully now my pen is fox proof, but I have heard they can scale a six foot fence. I really hope that is not the norm. Keeping fingers crossed for the eggs you do have.
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aaron
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 8, 2008 20:20:30 GMT 8
Well, it looks like I missed my opportunity. I went from getting eggs everyday to no eggs . I only had the one pair and I guess the ordeal of losing her mate was enough to put her off the lay. There is plenty of breeders in my area so I will get myself a new male. I might even treat myself to a new breed. I know someone who has a Saxony bantam sitting on eggs at the moment. Some new ducklings may ease the pain
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 9, 2008 10:14:11 GMT 8
What a shame Aaron, ducklings are great therapy. Let us see what you get. I forget, what area are you in
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aaron
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 10, 2008 2:50:36 GMT 8
Im in Esperance fluffy chook, Its only a small town but we are blessed with plenty of keen breeders, and a friend of mine does plenty of trips to Liz in Hearn Hill. His collection is also getting out of hand.
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Post by fluffychook on Dec 10, 2008 7:08:20 GMT 8
That's great that you have access to lots of breeders, makes getting new ones so much easier. I found it very difficult to find females for my dark campbell drake. In the end a lovely lady not far from me gave me hers, one of which we had to put down after a week. He won first prize at the Royal show too. If you are interested in Dark Campbells I have fertile eggs and I am also incubating 6 eggs at the moment and will be selling the ducklings and I live in Kalamunda which is not that far from Herne Hill. The Bantam Saxony are gorgeous ducks and any duckling is the cutest thing, my daughter was very stressed recently and found them great therapy.
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aaron
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Posts: 22
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Post by aaron on Dec 24, 2008 18:02:43 GMT 8
Thanks so much for the offer. I wont be in Perth for quite some time so I will pass on the offer of the ducklings. I picked up some Saxony Bantams two days ago. They are a week old and doing really well. I will post a picture when they get a bit older. Thanks again Aaron
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