Clutch of 8 - Momma died ;(

[tiffmw10]

We have 25 Chickens and 3 Call Ducks. Two Drakes and 1 Hen. She started sitting almost a month ago on 8 eggs, so we built a separate pen, just for the Ducks and new babies.

Sadly, something got in and took my momma Duck and 4 eggs. I'm devastated. Our pens are pretty solid, with thick bird netting over the top.

Thankfully, I had a Brody Hen to put the remaining eggs under. Two nights later, one egg hatched and because of the nesting boxes being up so high, we brought him into the house, under a heat lamp. After he hatched, my Brody Hen stopped sitting and we made the decision to bring the 3 eggs under the heat lamp. One more hatched last night, one was liquid (I tossed it) and the other is a waiting game.

I candled it tonight. No movement. I also did the float test. Nothing. It looks like a Day 26-28 egg. How much more time do I give it? Another week, just in case?

Here's my baby that came today!

 

[GitaBooks]

Adorable duckling!

I'm sorry to hear about the momma.

I usually give my eggs a day over-time, unless I think they may have gone cold during incubation (for over 30 minutes) than I give them up to 5 days. You can peep to them and if they don't respond use a needle to very carefully open the top, where the air-sac is, and see.

Best of luck!

 

[drumstick diva]

How sad - I am not feeling optimistic about your last egg but, if it isn't leaking or stinking - you could wait a bit more. I would put my energy into the hatched ducklings, and be very grateful to have those survivors.

 

[tiffmw10]

Thank you! My two are thriving and having a ball. Sadly, I'm not very optimistic either and that's only because of how large the air gap is at the top.

Here's the candling photo tonight.