Hope someone can help. I am wondering if the rest of the eggs in a clutch are going to hatch.
The story thus far... We have two female mallard domestic ducks (though different breeds within mallard family). They have been laying eggs and sitting on a nest together (as well as taking it in turns when one needed to stretch her legs). Three days ago 2 ducklings hatched. There are still 6 eggs in the nest and the females still sit on it (though generally just one, with the other guarding/keeping the 2 ducklings warm). They come off the nest fairly regularly to move about with the ducklings in an enclosed area, for food and water, staying off the nest for about 15 - 20 minutes a time. I have felt the eggs and they are still warm. But we are wondering if they are still viable? Are they going to hatch or have our female ducks in a sense abandonend them?
I had read that generally a clutch of eggs will hatch within hours of each other (those that are going to hatch), which is what makes us wonder.
An added note: The first two were hatched when it was lovely and warm here, then immediately after we have had a cool spell. I don't know if this may have affected the hatching, e.g. it is not warm enough for the remainder to hatch as yet? (Assuming that outside temperatures play a part in all of this.)
Any knowledge or experience will be helpful as finding nothing from other sources of a similar nature.
The story thus far... We have two female mallard domestic ducks (though different breeds within mallard family). They have been laying eggs and sitting on a nest together (as well as taking it in turns when one needed to stretch her legs). Three days ago 2 ducklings hatched. There are still 6 eggs in the nest and the females still sit on it (though generally just one, with the other guarding/keeping the 2 ducklings warm). They come off the nest fairly regularly to move about with the ducklings in an enclosed area, for food and water, staying off the nest for about 15 - 20 minutes a time. I have felt the eggs and they are still warm. But we are wondering if they are still viable? Are they going to hatch or have our female ducks in a sense abandonend them?
I had read that generally a clutch of eggs will hatch within hours of each other (those that are going to hatch), which is what makes us wonder.
An added note: The first two were hatched when it was lovely and warm here, then immediately after we have had a cool spell. I don't know if this may have affected the hatching, e.g. it is not warm enough for the remainder to hatch as yet? (Assuming that outside temperatures play a part in all of this.)
Any knowledge or experience will be helpful as finding nothing from other sources of a similar nature.
