Help! I've rescued 12 abandoned duck eggs...

[karekare413]

The mother either gave up or was scared off. It was cold (40*+) for two mornings & I thought for sure they would be dead. I called the local wildlife rehabilitator & she said the mother wasn't coming back & I coujd dispose of the eggs after a few days. She was kind & helpful but limited in advice because they are federally protected. I made a homemade incubator & hoped for the best. That was yesterday (5/23). Today, I hear chirping in the eggs & tonight three have started to crack. I knew when I candled them that they were pretty far along & I couldn't give up on them. Sure enough, at least 4 or 5 are moving inside the eggs. I went to a feed store & got a small waterer & feeder. I have a large box ready for their move when they're born. I have a light (it's in their incubator now) & a heating pad (also in the incubator right now). I have non-medicated duck crumbles ready to go. I've read advice on this site & others for days to prepare. But I still don't feel prepared. I'll call the rehabilitator when they're all born. I hope to keep them warm enough & away from my cats. But I have to return to work on Tuesday morning. I'll have to punch a lot of holes in the box & lock them in a room. QUESTION: should I keep the heating pad in the bottom of the plastic bin (towel under & on top so it doesn't overheat)? The light I have is ideal but can't be mounted above. I need to make sure they don't bump it because I have to mount it in the side & hope the plastic doesn't heat up. The light is encased with the front of the bulb exposed. I didn't want to pay a lot of money for a "house" & bulb if they aren't staying long. I'm looking for advice. What else do I need to know for the first 24/48 hrs of their lives??
Thanks!!

 

[Kroelies]

The group picture is a ball of fluff it's too cute omg

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congratulations on a great hatch.

 

[norvell84]

The basics are as follows:
Constant 99.5 degrees for eggs,
Water is necessary when they are actually hatching to keep them moist so they won't get stuck in the shell, and so they don't dehydrate when crawling around in the constant heat.
Ducks have a unique immune system when it comes to dirty water which is why they can drink pond water. So clean water is nto necessary, but not hurtful either.
As for the smell, most of it would be from the spoiling food they make a mess with. to keep it mold proof change the bedding every 3 days.
When they get too big for brooding box or whatever you are using you need an outside brooder with enough space for them to move around and plenty of air to keep the smell down. I live in the country so all I do is pull the poop tray out when near full and slowly walk with it out in a filed and dump it, maybe even sometimes throw it on my garden.

 

[Kroelies]

That's awesome!

 

[Kroelies]

SQUEEE THEY ARE SO CUTE

 

[duckmeister]

if they came from a populated area, park or the such, they are possibly feral domestic duck eggs.

If they for sure are wild duck eggs, then it's against the law to have them or hatch them without a federal permit. Could be big trouble. Hope others on the forum have more information.

 

[karekare413]

I live in a very residential area. Not the country. There are plenty of ponds & creeks. And there is no designation between wild & feral. Ducks are a federally protected migrating bird. I've spoken with a state wildlife rehabilitator. I can't raise them & I don't want to. Only need to know what to do for the first 24/48 hrs until she gets here to relocate them.

 

[Kroelies]

Is your humidity high enough for hatching? It should be around 65% and can be raised by sprinkling warm water over the eggs and adding water surface (shallow bowls) in the incubator. Some ducklings take 2 days from making the first crack in the egg to get out, so don't be worried if they take a pause.

If you are sure the heating pad won't burn them and they can't dig it out I think you can leave it in. Maybe ask a family member or a friend to check on the ducklings?

Good luck with these babies, great job on helping them!

 

[karekare413]

I have about 6 with cracks. I have always had a bowl of water in the box where they are being incubated. I'm wondering if I should lightly mist them to help soften the shells or take out the water now? Or less water in the dish? The cracks appeared last night & haven't changed. It's not been a full 12 hrs yet since the first cracks.