Will momma duck move her eggs around before they hatch?

meganelizabeth

In the Brooder
Apr 14, 2015
24
1
24
Daisey, my Peking female, has laid about 21 eggs that are visible. I know they are due to hatch soo but dont know the exact day. Through the whole process of laying on her eggs they have been in hole she dig and in the hay nest all nice and neat. This morning i took a peak at the nest and they were still neat but they werent as deep. They were more closer to the top of the nest kind of spread out but still all together. So my question is, will the momma duck move the eggs like this so they can hatch and if so about how long should i expect them too?
 
I know that mama ducks do move the eggs around. Are you concerned with the way all of the eggs are piled up? Any idea how much time mama spends sitting on the eggs?

I'm going to tag some members that have experience with hatching.

@caesargirl
@casportpony
@Miss Lydia
 
Ya, my girl Triumph does that. 20+ eggs. If they're close to hatching, I'd leave them. She might be moving them around to try to keep them all the same temp so they hatch at the same time. If she gets off her nest, you can try to do a quick candle. See if they're all progressing at the same rate. If there's any duds, bads or clears, take em out. If you have an incubator, you can try to hatch some for her and the same goes if some hatch and she leaves the nest with a bunch of her lings but leaves viable eggs behind and doesn't return.
 
I don't have enough signal to download a candling chart.....@debs flock @casportpony @miss lydia do any of you have the candle chart?

To candle, I use a mini flashlight or my iPhone light, any strong focused beam of light and shine it in the fat end of the egg and around the edges. I actually shine all over the egg from all angles. What you're looking for is veins, movement or clear or the egg might be filled with duckling except the air cell. That's on the fat end and will be clear. There may also be a mass with no veins free floating (bad).
Hopefully someone can post the chart. You can also post pics of the eggs as you candle.

If you think she will not come back to the nest if you disturb it, do not disturb it!!! Let nature take its course.
 
I don't have enough signal to download a candling chart.....@debs flock @casportpony @miss lydia do any of you have the candle chart?

To candle, I use a mini flashlight or my iPhone light, any strong focused beam of light and shine it in the fat end of the egg and around the edges. I actually shine all over the egg from all angles. What you're looking for is veins, movement or clear or the egg might be filled with duckling except the air cell. That's on the fat end and will be clear. There may also be a mass with no veins free floating (bad).
Hopefully someone can post the chart. You can also post pics of the eggs as you candle.

If you think she will not come back to the nest if you disturb it, do not disturb it!!! Let nature take its course.
Sorry about the delay my internet has been goofy http://wildliferehabber.com/candling-eggs @meganelizabeth Welcome to BYC
 
Sorry about the delay my internet has been goofy   http://wildliferehabber.com/candling-eggs     @meganelizabeth
    Welcome to BYC

Thanks for doing that Miss Lydia. Never heard from op anyway
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Thank you!! Yes i have candled before, but she is such a good mother! The only time she leaves her nest is to eat or drink so she maybe leaves only a couple of times a day. Im not too worried about how the eggs are. They are all nice and neat, i sort of figured she was giving them room to hatch :) This is her first ,well second, the first bunch she had was disturbed by a few of my kids... they know not to do that anymore! So i know she is doing everthing right!! About how long after she moves them like this should i see some babies?
 
Lol, no idea. Ducks move their eggs constantly. You truly would have to candle and see what stage of development....

Can I say how jealous I am!!! My pekin Big Momma, worst sitter ever. Only ever tried once!!!
Ummmm, you know, we all love pictures of ducklings......once they hatch!!!!
 
I definitely will post some pics!! I may have to buy a new sd card though haha! I raised these ducks since they were tiny babies so i am so excited for the new ones to arrive!! Im thinking they are due this week which is awesome becaue my rabbit is due anytime now!! Its like having kids all over again, the anticipation is killing me!! But yes there will pictures comming when they arrive!!
 

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