Duck eggs under chicken

[vlovin37]

Hi I have three Welsh Harlequin duck eggs that are 24 days old. They are being incubated by my Silky who is very broody. My Silky just recently hatched out five chicks but killed two before I could rescue the other three. The duck eggs are due to hatch in 4 days and was wondering if I can take them away when I notice them hatching and put them under my brood lamp to finish the hatch or will they dry out.?

 

[Kevin565]

I'm far from an expert in the hatching department but I believe the move might mess with humidity levels.

Also, Welcome to BYC!

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hi I have three Welsh Harlequin duck eggs that are 24 days old. They are being incubated by my Silky who is very broody. My Silky just recently hatched out five chicks but killed two before I could rescue the other three. The duck eggs are due to hatch in 4 days and was wondering if I can take them away when I notice them hatching and put them under my brood lamp to finish the hatch or will they dry out.?

Welcome to BYC!

No, it won't work well unless you can get the humidity up. They lose moisture very quickly once the hatch starts because the shell that keeps them moist is broken. Can you put them in a container with some clean wet sponges and the lamp while they hatch?

 

[vlovin37]

Yes I could do that with the wet sponges. Or I could keep a very close eye as they hatch under my chicken. I have read that it can take some time for ducks to fully hatch. I would be so upset if I was too late and she killed them.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Yes I could do that with the wet sponges. Or I could keep a very close eye as they hatch under my chicken. I have read that it can take some time for ducks to fully hatch. I would be so upset if I was too late and she killed them.

Yes, you heard correctly about the hatching time. I've had them take 2 days from the time they externally pip. Yours will probably not take that long since Calls are slower in general to hatch than birds with longer bills. I hope things go well for you this time!

 

[vlovin37]

Thanks for your advice I am new to this. Plus I am always worried about things especially any animals. I now have another hen sitting with her on the eggs. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. I checked them this morning and one of the eggs seemed a little cold on one end because now that there are two chickens in the same nesting box I don't think they are being sat on properly. I guess time will tell.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Thanks for your advice I am new to this. Plus I am always worried about things especially any animals. I now have another hen sitting with her on the eggs. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. I checked them this morning and one of the eggs seemed a little cold on one end because now that there are two chickens in the same nesting box I don't think they are being sat on properly. I guess time will tell.

What to do about 2 chickens setting on one duck nest.

There seems to have been a rash lately of two hens or two ducks trying to set on the same nest. Maybe it happens all the time and I'm just now noticing it. The first line I put in here was so it would come up in the thread listing.

I've seen some people say it works out fine, so it's up to you. What I'd do myself is either bring the eggs in to incubate them or make a nest next to the other nest and put half the eggs in that. See if you can scoot one hen over to the other nest and if she'll stay there.

I'm out of my league here. I'm unfortunately not a chicken person, so I'm not sure of the best ways to deter chickens from what they want to do. I'm going tag a few people who have chickens as well as ducks.

@Miss Lydia
@jtn42248
@Amiga

 

[jtn42248]

What to do about 2 chickens setting on one duck nest.

There seems to have been a rash lately of two hens or two ducks trying to set on the same nest. Maybe it happens all the time and I'm just now noticing it. The first line I put in here was so it would come up in the thread listing.

I've seen some people say it works out fine, so it's up to you. What I'd do myself is either bring the eggs in to incubate them or make a nest next to the other nest and put half the eggs in that. See if you can scoot one hen over to the other nest and if she'll stay there.

I'm out of my league here. I'm unfortunately not a chicken person, so I'm not sure of the best ways to deter chickens from what they want to do. I'm going tag a few people who have chickens as well as ducks.

@Miss Lydia
@jtn42248
@Amiga

Good advice. Another option, and the one I would take, if you have an incubator take them and incubate them that way. You will then have to brood them as well but there is a lot less chance that they may be attacked by chickens when they hatch. Also, at least with geese, if you make another nest you may find that they keep trying to steal the eggs from each other.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Good advice. Another option, and the one I would take, if you have an incubator take them and incubate them that way. You will then have to brood them as well but there is a lot less chance that they may be attacked by chickens when they hatch. Also, at least with geese, if you make another nest you may find that they keep trying to steal the eggs from each other.

LOL, Jon. I'd for some reason forgotten about that. I've never thought of it as 'stealing,' but I've seen ducks push eggs from one nest to another when they go broody.

I'd incubate, but that's because I incubate just about everything if I want to hatch something. I'd love to get some Silkie chickens that apparently want to set on everything, but that's not an option, and my Calls are too on-again-off-again to depend on them.

 

[jtn42248]

LOL, Jon. I'd for some reason forgotten about that. I've never thought of it as 'stealing,' but I've seen ducks push eggs from one nest to another when they go broody.

I'd incubate, but that's because I incubate just about everything if I want to hatch something. I'd love to get some Silkie chickens that apparently want to set on everything, but that's not an option, and my Calls are too on-again-off-again to depend on them.

Hey, another option would be get some Society Finches. They will sit, hatch and raise anything in an egg. Of course a duck egg is bigger than they are so they might have a hard time staying on top.