Abandoned eggs, no incubator... will this work?

[June Chick]

I have a duck named Hula who recently hatched 6 ducklings, with still 8 eggs to go. Well, she kinda ditched her nest and the chickens decided to dig around and ruined the nest and buried her eggs. I was able to get all of them together, and they're only a day or so from hatching. I have no incubator, so I made a nest, and put a heat lamp right by it... will this work? Is there any small chance it will? I don't want her ducklings to die, and she had no interest in sitting on the eggs anymore.

 

[lilmillefleur]

 

[SueT]

You might want to re-post in 'incubating and hatching eggs' forum, there are many experts there. You could candle the eggs and see if they are viable.

 

[EggWalrus]

If you can put a thermometer on the eggs and make sure they stay close to the right temp by adjusting the lamp, it just might work, that's if there's only one or two days left. I've had eggs get cool and yet still hatch after warming up. It's worth a try.

 

[June Chick]

Thank you all, fingers crossed they hatch soon <3

 

[SueT]

You might want to look at this thread where @Steven Mazzo successfully hatched one abandoned duck egg that had chilled in overnight temps in the 40's.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-have-no-idea-what-i-am-doing.1174714/

 

[Le Moth]

There is a chance!
We managed to hatch 3 muscovy eggs, they were abandoned a few days before hatching, though they did hatch 3 days late and needed a little assistance. They are healthy and full grown now, we had no previous experience with hatching eggs either.

I only have one pic.
We used a regular 45 watt bulb, a thermometer, cardboard box and covered the top with a blanket. We did have to keep a very close eye on the temp though, constantly adjusted the height of the bulb and misted them occasionally. Not something I want to repeat in a hurry, was a bit stressful, we were so worried that we were doing it all wrong.

Good luck!

 

[June Chick]

I put some damp napkins on top of them for humidity.
No thermometer right now as I usually don't hatch or raise chicks (I've had the same hens for the past 3-4 years without adding any chicks, I added a rooster recently and got some chicks, but they're old enough to be without a heat lamp. The ducklings were an accident). Would it be safe to go by how hot it feels, or should I get a thermometer ASAP? I can't get one tonight though.

 

[EggWalrus]

I put some damp napkins on top of them for humidity.
No thermometer right now as I usually don't hatch or raise chicks (I've had the same hens for the past 3-4 years without adding any chicks, I added a rooster recently and got some chicks, but they're old enough to be without a heat lamp. The ducklings were an accident). Would it be safe to go by how hot it feels, or should I get a thermometer ASAP? I can't get one tonight though.

I would go to the nearest 24/7 drug store and get a thermometer.

 

[SueT]

And put a flashlight to the eggs and see if they are developed and if there is movement....