Am I setting myself up for disaster?

[Love Ducklings]

Unfortunately my favorite duck was eaten by a fox She was just starting to lay eggs. I placed 10 of her eggs that she layed beginning the week after she started in to the incubator and shockingly they are all developing beautifully! They were from the fridge! Problem is, being that she was a new layer the eggs are really small... Are the ducklings going to be tiny and weak? Should I just give up now? It would be such a shame not to give them a chance, but I'm worried that they won't be able to survive. Thoughts?

 

[McChooky]

If you washed them before putting them in the refrigerator I don't think they'll hatch.

 

[Weeg]

If you washed them before putting them in the refrigerator I don't think they'll hatch.

That is not true. Washed eggs can do just fine in the incubator. The risk is that they are more susceptible to bacteria, so I do recommend having very clean hands when handeling them. Other than that there is no reason wages eggs won’t hatch.

 

[McChooky]

I'm sorry for your loss and hope they hatch! I've never hatched duck eggs before but a lot of people have successfully hatched young pullet eggs and they're small .(as long as they weren't washed)

 

[Weeg]

Op, can you post some photos? Is it possible they are fairy eggs? I do t have much experience with incubating odd eggs, but am following along as it is interesting to me.

 

[Weeg]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[McChooky]

That is not true. Washed eggs can do just fine in the incubator. The risk is that they are more susceptible to bacteria, so I do recommend having very clean hands when handeling them. Other than that there is no reason wages eggs won’t hatch.

Porous eggs with the coating washed off don't have a good chance of developing.

 

[Tonyroo]

As far as small eggs from new layer as long as there fertilized they will hatch. Chicks or ducklings from small egg will still thrive and be strong.

 

[McChooky]

"The warmth of incubation turns the contaminated egg into a factory for bacteria reproduction, often killing the embryo and spreading to nearby eggs"
https://ecochickspoultry.com/taking-care-of-fertile-eggs-before-incubation/

 

[Weeg]

Porous eggs with the coating washed off don't have a good chance of developing.

The coating helps reduce bacteria risk. Your correct that it increases the risk of bacteria entering the egg, but it doesn’t garrentee that they have a bad chance at hatching. Eggs that are washed can hatch without any problems.