Dead ducklings

[Just Fluff]

I have Welsh Harlequin ducks and two of my hens were sitting on a large cluster of eggs. Because of where they were, I moved them about a week ago. They were in the main coop with chickens, so I had no way to make sure the ducklings were able to get food or water. I put them in the other half of my coop in a small pen so that I could put food and water out for them and protect them from the other birds and potential predators. I had 4 hatch out, but when the first two hatched out, the next morning, one was headless. That is a big part of the reason that I moved them.

I put both of the hens and the eggs and remaining duckling in a small dog crate and put them in the other pen. Two more hatched out, so I now have 3 healthy ducklings. The one hen gave up on sitting, so I removed her and let her back out with the other ducks. So far, no more have hatched out. I checked them today just visually and by weight and they all seem to have a developed duckling inside. I cracked two of them open that I had dated and were about 40 days old. There were ducklings inside, but they both were dead. I fear that the rest of the clutch is going to be the same. There are about 12 eggs left. All are newer than the two that I cracked open, but I believe for the most part they should have hatched out by now. I honestly didn't date them all as I had planned as it was difficult to get to the nest where they were laying them originally.

Two questions: should I give it another week at least to see if some more hatch out? What are the possible causes of them forming but then not hatching? Should I not have moved them? Is the crate too hot? (It is a regular plastic type dog crate that one may use for shipping puppies or kittens and there is no heat in the coop.) I was really looking forward to hatching out these ducklings and am very sad that they are dead before they have hatched out. They appear to be fully formed. Are the eggs too hard for them to get out of maybe? Should I try incubating another batch? If so, what is the best incubator for ducks?

 

[Pendergast]

Agreed with @GoldenFlight After awhile you come to terms with losing babies that don't hatch, but when one hatches, I'm all in. I have convinced myself that if they aren't strong enough to make it out of the egg, that's that, but once they're out, when I lose them I'm a mess.

I also have to agree with everyone who has said to let mom handle things and enjoy the ducklings you do get. I incubate the eggs in a bator and there's more of a sense of "what could I have done better" when really in nature some babies make it, some don't. I let them sit in the incubator past their due dates as long as the egg still looks viable. I had a 2/12 egg in progress that hatched yesterday. You never know.

Annnd I'm rambling. Fingers crossed for the rest of your clutch.

 

[GoldenFlight]

I'm soooo sorry about your loss.

It's hard to know why they died in the shell, but it could have had something to do with the move.... Just don't blame yourself.

The duckling in the picture wasn't ready to hatch, so it had nothing to do with the egg shell thickness. You could try candling the rest of the eggs to see if anymore are stilling living. Here is an article to help you know if they are living or not. http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm

 

[GoldenFlight]

That makes no sense at all.....you can hatch Duck and chicken eggs the same way in the same incubator on the same settings or hatch under a broody and she supplies the exact and proper heat and humidity to her eggs.....Ducks do not need water to hatch eggs.......


Cheers!

If you research it you will see that many people who hatch ducklings under a chicken will take a wet wash cloth and whip a little water on her breast for the extra humidity that duckling require.

I do not intend to make an argument out of this so if you disagree with me that is perfectly fine....

 

[GoldenFlight]

I have Muscovy's and have had many hatches some eggs just don't hatch could be mama has too many eggs and she doesn't get to sit on all of them enough to keep them warm or she is a first time mama and just isn't doing everything just so. It's really hard to know sometimes. I always try to not over analyze what may have happened and just enjoy the ones that did hatch. And hope the next time things will go better. It's very sad to lose them before hatch and after which happens too.

I see you couldn't quote that message either....

I agree.... Losing them after hatch has even more of a blow to it though.

 

[Just Fluff]

I am rigging up something so she can get into some water during the day. Will see if that works. Sure hope a few more will hatch out!

 

[Just Fluff]

Thank you WVduckchick for your great advice. I will see what I can find for those brands.

 

[QuackSpeak]

I'm so sorry!

I can't answer any of your questions, as I've never hatched duck eggs before, but hopefully some other BYC members can help...
@Amiga
@Miss Lydia
@casportpony

 

[chickens really]

Once you moved them, is the Hen still setting them ? Or has she abandoned the nest?


Cheers!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am very sorry about the duckling. I don't use a bator so i can't help you there but we do have many that use them,

@RavynFallen

@WVduckchick

@Ren2014

@FoodFreedomNow Just to call on a few.

As for waiting a while longer for the rest of the ducklings to hatch if they are. I'd give it a few more days. Mama duck will want to bring her ducklings that have hatched out to eat and drink I'd advise you keep them separate from the rest of the flock for at least a week or 2 just to give the ducklings time to get their legs under them good where they can keep away from potential danger among the rest of the flock .Once she brings them out she is probably through with the eggs that are left then candle and look for any internal hatching so you'll know if any more are going to hatch.