Call Duck leaving eggs

[Camsmum]

Hi. I messaged a month or so ago about my little call duck leaving her eggs. We were unable to save them as they had already gone. However she lay another 5 and sat on them. I candled them and they were developing well. She has been sat on them for two weeks. Now another such has hatched some ducklings and the call duck is more interested in following them around and being a second mum. I have to keep catching her and shutting her in with the eggs. However she gets upset and wants to get out. I would say she was off them yesterday for a few hours and today another couple so far. Are they saveable?

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

Hi. I messaged a month or so ago about my little call duck leaving her eggs. We were unable to save them as they had already gone. However she lay another 5 and sat on them. I candled them and they were developing well. She has been sat on them for two weeks. Now another such has hatched some ducklings and the call duck is more interested in following them around and being a second mum. I have to keep catching her and shutting her in with the eggs. However she gets upset and wants to get out. I would say she was off them yesterday for a few hours and today another couple so far. Are they saveable?

Try not to worry! I’ve never dealt with duck eggs before but i’ve dealt with chickens and my broody hen left her eggs cold quite a few times while she was getting used to it and then abandoned them at 2 weeks. We put them in an incubator and had a successful hatch so i think yours should be fine if you find an incubator or replacement mother? Are you able to incubate them? Sorry that’s not very helpful but keeping my fingers crossed for your eggs!

 

[cluckadoodledoo13]

If a replacement heat source is found, try candling them and look for movement. Leave them a few days then candle again. If you have some that don’t move either time then possibly mark them as they could have died. I’m not too sure but that’s what we did with our hens.

 

[AquaDuck]

Broody ducks go off their nest once a day, often for hours at a time. It's cause for concern that she got a history of giving up though, and also being interested in the other ducklings. Can you make sure she doesn't see the ducklings and still have access to the outdoors? She has to be able to go off the eggs to poop and eat.

 

[Camsmum]

Yes, she had been happily coming off, swimming, eating and having a bit of a wander then back on the eggs. However as soon as these other ducklings have hatched she has changed. Even with her in a completely different part of garden she quacks loudly and seeks the ducklings out. Going to try and get hold of an egg incubator.

 

[Isaac 0]

I think setting the eggs in an incubator is your best bet, sounds as if she has become disinterested in the eggs.