Do you think these eggs will hatch?~~HAPPY EASTER UPDATE !!

[Sunny Side Up]

I have a broody bantam hen who made a nest for herself in my bird 'n' butterfly garden. It was just a little nest hollowed out in the ground. I swapped out her bantam eggs for 6 duck eggs, which she was covering nicely. Then we got 8" of rain in 24 hours & the yard flooded. At first I thought this hen was spared since there weren't any puddles around her. But when I lifted her from the nest to check, I found the eggs sitting in about an inch of water.

I have since placed the hen & her eggs in a cage on the patio. She has taken well to the change, & continues to set on those eggs.

But do you think the soaking they got will affect their hatchability? She's only about a week into her set, I could easily replace those eggs with fresh ones. But if they are all right I would hate to waste those eggs & her time. Please let me know what you think.

 

[Mahonri]

If they got wet, I wouldn't even try.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

I have seen Female Ducks sit in water soaked nests near our pond, and they hatched....

 

[Bravo]

I wouldnt give up until you candle and know for sure that the eggs are not viable.\\

I hope everything works out for you.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I hatch eggs I find in water/mud/poo all the time. Just smell the bator every day an if you smell something throw out the smelly egg. Most hatch. I would rather try to hatch the messy eggs myself an eat the clean ones

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Since duck eggs seem to have a more waxy feel to their shells I wondered if that made them safer from harm by excessive moisture. I think it would be more likely for broody duck hens to have made their nests in damper places, and nature compensates for that. I will try to see what I can see by candling them tonight, then compare in a few days, and hope to see progress. If not I'll re-set with new eggs.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I didn't realize when I first set these eggs under this hen that they would be due to hatch on Easter Day. Faithful little Biscuit the bantam hen has been dutifully setting on these eggs for 28 days. I did candle them, but couldn't tell just what it was I was seeing, so I left them under her. Two days ago I took an egg from under her and felt some MOVEMENT inside! Yesterday I could feel movement, hear peeps & pecking from inside, and saw pipping. This morning, Easter Sunday, there were 5 precious new baby ducklings under Biscuit's wings. The one egg of the 6 that didn't hatch never developed, it looks clear inside when I candle it. It seems the soaking in the rain water didn't affect these duck eggs. Thanks for all the imput & support!

 

[TK Poultry]

I find ducks eggs in water all the time one of my hens laid in the pool!!! I thought they would be ok. This thread was like a book I was waiting and waiting and waiting to see the out come and BAM good news!

Congradulations and Happy Easter!!!

 

[Lolita]