Duck hatch, Kahki Campbells, young hen

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Weight loss is normal. Hens don't eat as much when they're broody, which is why having a hen sit on eggs that are not fertile or having her sit for longer than necessary isn't good for her health.

Be careful when taking her away from the nest. While it is good for her to get up and stretch, you don't want to accidently break her off her broodiness.

Have you candled the eggs yet to see if they are viable?

Thank you!

I will candle tomorrow... The worst of the cold weather will end tonight so if I am to stop this, she will be distracted by going outside.

Do they get depressed if the eggs disappear?

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

@SilverBirds
I candled yesterday, first thing to report is there are actually 7 eggs. Seems digging in the straw can yield surprises

Yesterday I saw 3 eggs with veins, the others seemed ordinary. I took her off the nest and put her outside to play and bathed her in the bathtub (in the house). I kept in mind what you said about her perhaps losing interest, but I was more worried about her than the eggs. In the end, she cuddled them as soon as she got home. Meanwhile she took a nice couple of poo-breaks while out of the coop and she ate. I decided that was more important to my sanity and her health.

Today I took the nest out to make her go eat. While she ate i checked the eggs and all 7 have visible veins. I couldn't take a picture, but I am sure those are veins.

By the way, some of the air pockets seem to be bigger. (?) I think I heard that mentioned in incubation posts, but I don't know if that is good or bad (or just normal). Likely normal development.

I am still ambiguous about ducklings... Not sure the water I have will be enough during the dry season... I will have to figure this out... (Or move!!!)

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Hi @SilverBirds,
I took a look at a few of the eggs today while she was eating & bathing. It was daytime so not great to see. Some seemed to have all dark on one side of the egg. As if there was paint inside and only enough for half an egg. It settled in the bottom side? Is that a baby or the yolk in a spoiled egg?

I haven't seen her turn them. When my hens play with unfertilized eggs they turn them to sit on them. Will that impact the babies? (Not that I can teach her or do it for her)

I will try again later, after sunset...

Thanks!

 

[SilverBirds]

It would be very helpful if you could get pictures of a few eggs so I can see what you are seeing.

You aren't going to be able to see her turn the eggs every time unless you are watching her 24/7. She will shuffle the eggs with her feet and her bill randomly throughout the day, rearranging which eggs are on the outside of the nest and which are on the inside. If you are worried, you can mark the eggs with a pencil with an X on one side and an O or a # on the other. Check the eggs when she gets off the nest. Maybe take a picture to compare.

 

[SilverBirds]

How are things going?

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

How are things going?

They ALL have veins

So... A little panic about what I do with 7 new ducks

But as far as the eggs go... Super good

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

I didn't check the date, but end Feb, early March will be the due date

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

@SilverBirds

The eggs started! I was pretty sure this was a fool's errand, but I kept checking them every few days and seeing veins and movement... So.... Patience...

Today, she climbed out for a quick bath and I grabbed the basket (gently) and found 3 with cracks! One of them wide open! Beak showing and a noisy baby inside!

Funny, all the cracks were on the underside. Do they hatch upside down? I would have expected them to crack the top of the shell.

I am trying to stay out of it... Momma knows nothing (her first clutch) but I know much much less...

 

[SilverBirds]

That's great!

The chicks usually pip on the upper side of the egg, but mom may have rolled the eggs a bit after they had gotten into position. I've had chicks pip from all different angles and hatch on their own; they'll be fine.

Pictures when they hatch.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

There isn't much to see yet... (Oh, no worries, more pics to follow)

They look ok, all 3 are moving inside the shells, and all the beaks are mobile (the one with the biggest hole yawned while I was there.)

The other 4 eggs have no marks of breakage on the shell.

Momma comes out to wash her belly and eat, then straight back to the nest.