Broody Duck Hatching!

[Graceeelizabeth5]

I have another question. Might be weird. Does she sit on them after they've already pipped? I'm so anxious about that whole situation.

 

[Abraeri]

I have another question. Might be weird. Does she sit on them after they've already pipped? I'm so anxious about that whole situation.

Yes... I've heard they let up pressure but they do keep sitting. In fact I've read that the pressure of the mother duck helps them hatch .

 

[Graceeelizabeth5]

So it's been over 28 days and some of them should have hatched. But I keep waking up with pieces of broken egg and some blood. No sign of a duckling though. Could she be destroying them as they pip? She has 6 remaining eggs that I've candled and are moving around around in there so I know they're still alive. Should I remove the eggs and put them in the incubator? I don't know if she's doing something with them because it always happens during the night. I check on them multiple times a day. This is so frustrating!

 

[Graceeelizabeth5]

Just an update. She kept accidentally cracking her eggs at night, and I'd wake up to a heartbreaking mess. So I went and got an incubator, and I took her 4 of her remaining eggs that showed life and left about 3 that didnt look so good, so she wouldn't freak out. We lost one of them in the incubator because i believe it couldn't break through the shell after internally pipping. I should have assisted but it's my first time and I didnt want to disrupt it! Bad mistake. So when the others passed 24 hours after internally pipping, I made a hole in the air pocket. I didnt touch membrane at all, and let them do the rest. One is completely hatched and thriving! One is mostly out, but chirping away. And the 3rd just popped its head out and is also chirping like crazy I'm so happy they're okay and we still have life after all that mess!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww congratulations. That is adorable some ducks make excellent broodys not so much in the mother dept. they tend to freak out once hatch begins an go into attack mode. Sorry this happened with your female. I had one too. Now you have three littles to show love and care too I am happy for you!!

 

[Abraeri]

You could try introducing them back to the mother and see if she accepts them. I've read a lot of places that first time mother will freak out when they start pipping, like Miss Lydia said, but end up as great mothers

 

[Graceeelizabeth5]

Well the first that hatched has been running around, chirping, and is a little spitfire. The other two are having issues walking. I think they may be splayed. Or it might be because they had difficult hatches and its taking them longer to gain their strength. They're scooting around trying to walk. I don't know what to do.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable!! If splay legged you can hobble them usually only takes a day or two and they’ll be up an walking normal but they may just need a little time too. Congrats!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Look up poultry pedia they give info on hobbles if after today you feel they need help getting their legs under them.

 

[Graceeelizabeth5]

Thank you!