duckling anxiety

[Flock Runner]

i accidentally allowed one of my ducks to nest a few eggs too late in the season(i didn't know she had them until they were already developing). only 2 of them are hatching because the others are unfertilized. one of the developing ones pipped earlier today, and i have been checking on it hourly. it is breathing inside the egg nicely and seems fine. this is my first time ever hatching any eggs though, and i would like to bring it inside before it hatches so that the cats don't eat it. i am having a dilemma over whether or not i should do that though. i have a nice setup for when it hatches, but i don't have an incubator. if i make a nice nest under a medium heat light bulb, would it be too dry and create problems with hatching? i have some work that i need to finish up and can't just wait outside for it to hatch. what should i do until it hatches?

any other tips for a first timer would be greatly appreciated too.

thanks in advance!

 

[Sphynxii]

Is the duck siting on it?

 

[Dwen]

If at all possible, leave it under the Mommy to hatch completely. It sounds like it could still be 24-48 hours before complete hatch, and its very easy at this point to hurt the baby in trying to help.

 

[Flock Runner]

update: I decided that the best option to minimize the chance of predators was to bring the nest inside where it cannot be touched by any other animal. so far, both eggs have pipped internally, but the one that pipped first has started to chirp and tap on the inside of the egg. the mama seems fine inside and is nesting the eggs like she should. but now I am at the question of about how long until they hatch. the first one pipped at about 10:00 yesterday, and the second one pipped at about 1:00 today. I have work and would like to be home when they hatch, but I don't know when that will be. I tend to get anxious over these things and cause unnecessary stress, and sometimes damage, when I just want to help. I know what to do after they hatch, but i'm so uncertain as to when that will be that I am stressing myself out over being there when they do.

after the initial first pip through the shell though, how long will it take for a duckling to go all the way around and push open the egg? and if I want them to imprint on me(as they will not be able to stay with the mother because of the weather) then do I need to be there right when they hatch? i'm so new to hatching and this may all seem silly, but thank you for any advice you have!

 

[Miss Lydia]

update: I decided that the best option to minimize the chance of predators was to bring the nest inside where it cannot be touched by any other animal. so far, both eggs have pipped internally, but the one that pipped first has started to chirp and tap on the inside of the egg. the mama seems fine inside and is nesting the eggs like she should. but now I am at the question of about how long until they hatch. the first one pipped at about 10:00 yesterday, and the second one pipped at about 1:00 today. I have work and would like to be home when they hatch, but I don't know when that will be. I tend to get anxious over these things and cause unnecessary stress, and sometimes damage, when I just want to help. I know what to do after they hatch, but i'm so uncertain as to when that will be that I am stressing myself out over being there when they do.

after the initial first pip through the shell though, how long will it take for a duckling to go all the way around and push open the egg? and if I want them to imprint on me(as they will not be able to stay with the mother because of the weather) then do I need to be there right when they hatch? i'm so new to hatching and this may all seem silly, but thank you for any advice you have!

Why can't they be with mother? she will keep them warm she has down under her feathers, just seems cruel to take them away after all her work of bringing them into the world. About hatching it can take up to 36 hrs total from internal to zip so patience is a must when ducklings are hatching, and the more you mess with the eggs the more you risk shrink wrapping the duckling. Humidity is perfect under mama duck. Good lick and let us know when they finally hatch with pics of course. As for imprinting they would need to be taken as soon as they hatch to imprint on you, but I sure hope you'll reconsider and let mama keep them.

 

[melissamerry]

I would also suggest reconsidering the imprinting. Even if the ducks dont imprint, you can still create a special bond with them. It will take time and patience and a lot of work, but the bond will be strong and worth it.

I have three ducks, now over a year old, and they are NOT imprinted on me. They still follow me around, let me hold them, and listen to direction. If they were imprinted they would need constant attention every hour of the day. This way, I can still go to school, work, and come home to excited ducks instead of anxious and nervous ones.

They still enjoy sitting on my lap in the car, going to the beach and to the park. They know they are ducks but they also know who I am and what role I play in their life.

Hope this helps! And post some pictures of the little cuties. You can never have too many duck pictures.