Broody hen pecked pipping duck egg.

[caesargirl]

What about making an incubator? Something basic?

 

[ckim25]

Im not even sure how to begin with making one. But right now the duckling is in a bowl, on a damp towel, under a red heat lamp with a loosly covered damp paper towel that Im trying to keep damp every few mins... maybe 15 or 20 mins. The little thing seems to have gained some strength again and is kicking and squirming. Which normally would be good, but it doesnt appear the yolk sac has been absorbed all the way. I could be wrong and maybe it just appears that way. Is there typically a little left? He/she is gonna give me chest pains lol. Its growing right before my eyes. Its been about 14 hours since this all started happening.

 

[ckim25]

This has been a very long night. Things seem ok so far. ..fingers crossed. The duckling does appear early maybe. But seems very strong and determined to free itself and im doing everything i can to keep the bottom part of the egg attached. This duckling and i are backwards i think cause isnt it usually the other way around? lol Now we are down to a small portion of something.. im not sure if its the yolk sac or membrane but its attached to the belly. Its mostly clear, not yellow but what concerns me is there is some swirly white line in it. Im keeping everything moist and searching as much as i can.

 

[caesargirl]

Hay. How goes it?

 

[ckim25]

Hey Caesargirl! Thanks for checking back. Unfortunately the baby didnt make it. Even worse I'm pretty sure its something I did. Things seemed to be progressing fine and the baby was trying to get its footing when I noticed it seemed to be slipping on the paper towels I had used to wet and have humidity. The heat lamp had dried the paper towel the baby was trying to stand on. I decided to swap the paper towel for a hand towel. I walked away for about 15 mins and when I came back the duckling had died. The towel had gotten really hot. I think that's what lead to the death. I have a lot to learn. I dont think hatching is right for me. I feel awful. Now im scared about two others that are preparing to hatch in the next 12 to 48 hours. (In one i saw the beak plain as day and a lot of close scratching going on.) Hopefully I wont have to intervene and the chicken will allow these to hatch.

I hope you're doing well and i truly appreciate your help, input and concern. I'll keep you posted on the others.

 

[ckim25]

Oh and in all my reading and learning over night, I learned something I wish I had known 3 weeks ago. That if a broody hen is sitting on duck eggs, prepare to add humidity by spraying or spritzing them with water. The eggs I have come across so far have had the dried, crumpled paper look. That sitting ducks give the eggs humidity when they take a dip and return to sit on the eggs. Good info to have.

 

[caesargirl]

First, don't feel too badly. The best hatcheries and hatchers don't always have 100%. Ducks don't always have 100%. I lost several babies that made it out of the egg this year. We learn from what we do.
Have you misted the remaining eggs? You can use a damp washcloth for standing on. Do you have a brooder ready, just in case?

 

[ckim25]

Thank you... just felt like it was depending on me. Poor baby.
I do have of a brooder ready. We have currently have 33 chickens, all hens, 1 male khaki campbell and 1 female muscovy. We lost 3 females and 1 male khaki campbells from a duck day massacre by a couple of dogs. Thats why im really hoping these hatch.
I have misted when I catch the broody hen off the nest. If she catches me she climbs that ladder fast to rescue them lol. But shes great about allowing me to grab eggs from underneath her. I guess the water freaks her out a bit.

 

[caesargirl]

Fingers crossed! This seems to have been a horrible hatch year for everyone around here! I put my incubator away after my last duckling hatched.... He's an inside house duck now because none of his egg mates made it....gosh forbid he go out and be with the other ducks, nooooo, he ain't having it!
You'll have to share se pics!!!

 

[WVduckchick]

I'm not sure how I missed the tag on this! How is everything going now?
I'm sorry you lost that first one.