Does a broody duck "need" to have swim time to cool down before heading back to the nest?

[MV Chicks]

I have a mallard that has been sitting for 33 days now. During the first week of her broodyness I switched some duck eggs out with chicken eggs. So far so good. Then I noticed our other ducks laying their eggs in there too, so I had to isolate her, which means she can't go out to swim for a cool down. I'm guessing that could drag things out for another week since I just left them there. In the end we ended up with a mix of 17 eggs. Five chickens hatched at day 22, but as of today still no ducks. She rolled a bad egg out today, which had a dead duck inside. Since this is day 33 do you think she could still have viable eggs under her? She is sitting on 10 eggs now. Also, since she is unable to go swim is that keeping the eggs from maturing properly? I read that ducks eggs "need" that cool down period. How true is that?

 

[Amiga]

I just don't know about that - I always let my broodies get out once or twice a day when they want to - and yes, they jump into the swim pan and splash a lot.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

The eggs I think do need some moisture-- mom knows what they need. I think whenever you get other ducks egg bombing the nest , it messed up hatch rate. At least here it does. Have no idea about the chickens tho. I did read once before that most breeders will toss late hatchers, as that is not a trait that is desired to be passed on. I might wait til Day 35, but that's it. Have you candled?

 

[MV Chicks]

No I haven't candled. This is the first time I've had a broody. Mama growls at me when I go too near her and now she is always on the nest. She bit me during the first week, while she was in a trance and I was trying to show her food. She rolled two rotten eggs out of the nest today. One had a dead duck inside. Boy, did they stink. The chickens are doing very well and are 11 days old already. I was allowing mama to swim in a pan inside her pen until the chickens hatched. Then, I was afraid she would try to make them go in and drown so I took it away. I noticed today that she has been sitting up on her eggs. As if she was letting air get to them. She even rolled a couple out of the nest for a while and then put them back in. I thought I saw movement in one of those eggs. Guess she knows what she's doing. I'm still concerned about the humidity factor. Especially since we have one casualty already with the rotten egg today. I'm afraid I would have to take the chicks away in order to let her swim again but I don't want to stress her out. They have a bond.

 

[corrinekay]

The eggs need humidity, just as they would in an incubator. Usually it comes from mom swimming and then sitting on them. They may not have had enough moisture. I don't believe chicken eggs need it. Hopefully they are just late because of the moisture issue. Watch them as they may be having trouble getting out. Hoping for the best

 

[MV Chicks]

Its no wonder she acted distressed when there was no swim pan and she couldn't get out of her area. I feel awful depriving her of something so vital.

 

[corrinekay]

I would candle and smell them. You don't want any to explode on the nest it might make the chicks sick. Don't feel bad, there could be many other factors at play especially with a first time broody.

 

[MV Chicks]

Well I tried candeling and they all looked dark inside. So, i cracked one open and there was a baby duck inside. It wasn't moving. It was kinda bloody. I feel sooooo awful.. Did I kill it? I'm at a loss.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I tried candeling and they all looked dark inside. So, i cracked one open and there was a baby duck inside. It wasn't moving. It was kinda bloody. I feel sooooo awful.. Did I kill it? I'm at a loss.

Okay first off if any ducklings hatch your going to have to take the chicks away and brood them because she is going to eventually want to take her ducklings for a swim.
And if others where laying in her nest she'll most likely have a staggered hatch which means ducklings will be hatching on different days best thing for you to do now is just watch and wait. and try not to feel to badly about the egg you opened. But I'd give her till first of the week before deciding to take any more out except to candle. Unless you smell one has gone bad. I'd open the door and let her go out to bathe, stay close by and lock her back in once she goes back on the nest.

 

[MV Chicks]

Yep, that was the plan, to take away the chicks once the ducks hatched. That way she wouldn't feel like she has no babies at all. She is out and about today in her pen, bathing etc. She's been out for about 2 hrs now so I'm wondering if she has abandoned the nest at this point. She saw me candling and didn't seem to care, which is way different from how she had been acting previously. I actually saw veins in one egg but the rest are all dark except for the air pocket. I even did a water test to see if any were moving but couldn't see anything. I took the opportunity to wash goop off the from the chickens hatching. They all stink but I can't tell if that is a bad egg or just stinking from having the goop on them. Oh, what a day!!!