Broody momma during heat wave

[MerryMeridional]

I have a broody on day 22. We are in a heat wave. She is off the nest more but the outside temps are just too hot. Is there anything I can do to help keep the eggs going for the next week?

 

[my gang eats grass]

She should get off the nest if it gets too hot, and 106 shouldn't hurt the eggs; I've had it get up to 106 in my incubator lots of times. I wouldn't worry about it unless the mamma duck isn't getting off. You could also stick a thermometer under her so you know what the temp is.

 

[MerryMeridional]

She is off a lot more lately but still sits. I did put a thermometer with humidity sensor. Humidity is way too low. I put some damp napkins out there to hopefully help.

 

[MerryMeridional]

She should get off the nest if it gets too hot, and 106 shouldn't hurt the eggs; I've had it get up to 106 in my incubator lots of times. I wouldn't worry about it unless the mamma duck isn't getting off. You could also stick a thermometer under her so you know what the temp is.

I went and checked. She was in the coop on a different nest?? But not on the one she's been sitting on the whole time. The temp gauge says 93.7 but outside temp is about 100. I'm worried about later this week when the highs will be close to 120.

 

[my gang eats grass]

When it gets hotter, if you have an incubator, I would move the eggs inside and fill her nest with golf balls. Then try to give the ducklings back when they hatch.

 

[MerryMeridional]

I don't have an incubator unfortunately. I read in another thread about putting a jug of frozen water near the nest to help lower the ambient temps, is that something worth trying instead?

 

[my gang eats grass]

I don't have an incubator unfortunately. I read in another thread about putting a jug of frozen water near the nest to help lower the ambient temps, is that something worth trying instead?

You could try and see if it helps, but I don't know how long that would last in hot weather. The range in my incubator is usually about 93 to 110, so I would not be too worried about the eggs, I would be more worried about the duck staying on her nest when things start to cool down.

 

[MerryMeridional]

You could try and see if it helps, but I don't know how long that would last in hot weather. The range in my incubator is usually about 93 to 110, so I would not be too worried about the eggs, I would be more worried about the duck staying on her nest when things start to cool down.

Knowing they can get that hot makes me feel better. The temp reader out there is saying anything from 93.7 - 99 when I check it. Seems like the straw in the nestbox is keeping the temps regulated. I'm more worried about humidity now, which is reading like 15-19%. I drip a little water on the eggs once or twice a day when I check and replace the wet napkin. One of the air cells looks huge but I am still seeing movement.

 

[my gang eats grass]

Use a spray bottle and cover with a towel. The humidity needs to stay in the high 50s so you'll need to check on them a lot. If it gets too low it could kill them.

 

[MerryMeridional]

Use a spray bottle and cover with a towel. The humidity needs to stay in the high 50s so you'll need to check on them a lot. If it gets too low it could kill them.

I've been putting wet napkins out there. Will a towel scare momma away?

I think the one with the large air sac has internally pipped. It looks like the duckling is stretching the membrane but I can hear peeping! There is some cracking in the external shell, too. The other egg looks like it might be a day or two behind. Is it true that higher temps can reduce the incubation time? We've had some seriously hot weather.