Duck Eggs - Can I help?

[Equest94]

At my work, there was a duck who laid 13 eggs. She was a very dedicated mother, would sit on her eggs through storms, dog encounters, kids trying to pet her, etc... she would not move unless it was to eat. Well, a sad thing happened, she was killed by weasels (minks) and all but 4 eggs were eaten. Some one suggested that "since I have chickens" I should take the remaining eggs and see if they would hatch, so now I have them...

How can I tell if they are still viable? (she was killed overnight, 2 of the 4 eggs were still covered and a bit warm)
Currently I do not have an incubator... I forced one of my hens to sit on them though.... is there anything I can do?

Sorry, I never hatched a bird...we usually just buy chicks, so this is new to me.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MissPrissy]

Watch very carefully if your hen manages to hatch them. Ducks take 28 - 30 days. The hen will know they are not chickens when they hatch and she may kill them.

 

[Equest94]

My hen doesn't have very good motherly instincts...she doesn't go broodie which is great for collecting eggs but not great for trying to hatch them, so currently I have her "locked" in her laying area, and she currently is sitting on the eggs, although she isn't very happy at the moment. I hope to find a better alternative to her since I can't keep her locked up for so long....

Is there a way I can tell whether or not the ducklings are still alive in there?

 

[MissPrissy]

Candle them. Super bright light. Very dark room. Look for movement or shadows moving inside the egg. Shine the light down through the big end of the egg.

 

[Equest94]

So my hen decided to go broodie for those duck eggs... she won't sit on hers but he really likes those ones, LOL.

I did candle the eggs and they all seem to be duds (I should've realize that if the weasels ate mom + 9 of the eggs, the ones left over probably weren't very good to begin with).

Well, it took me a good tail grab toosh lift to get those eggs out from under the hen...poor thing is still sitting there guarding her non existent nest.

 

[Omniskies]

Slip a few substitute eggs under her and quickly order/buy some hatching eggs. Now's the time to play

 

[Equest94]

LOL! That's a great idea.

Poor thing is still sitting there... might as well give her something to hatch now that she's willing.