Duckling hatching??

[hoppingchicks]

I have about 6 duck eggs in the incubator at the moment and a couple are near to hatching.........but I also have a hen that has been broody for about 3 and a half weeks unfortunately the eggs she was on don't seem to be fertile and I was wondering if there is any way to transfer the eggs to under her this late on? .........Or is the risk way to high ?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I don’t have a broody so never moved my eggs but @Miss Lydia May know if this would work

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be worth trying just watch how she reacts. But I would think if she has been sitting that long she'll take the eggs just remove the others first.
I know my Muscovy wouldn't bat an eye if I put more eggs under them.

 

[hoppingchicks]

I don’t have a broody so never moved my eggs but @Miss Lydia May know if this would work

thanks this is a first for me I've only ever had chicks

 

[hoppingchicks]

Be worth trying just watch how she reacts. But I would think if she has been sitting that long she'll take the eggs just remove the others first.
I know my Muscovy wouldn't bat an eye if I put more eggs under them.

thanks, I might try that..... just I'm worried that the ducklings are so close to piping that the change in humidity would kill them I think one of them has just started internally piping so it's kinda very late

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good point that I can't tell ya since I don't use bators.

@WVduckchick?
@HollowOfWisps ?

 

[WVduckchick]

I am also confident that she would accept the eggs if you swap them out, and they would likely be fine.

But I would also consider just giving the ducklings to her once they hatch in the incubator. Does your hen mind if you mess with her and her nest? If she allows you to get close, you could slip the ducklings under her. I’d do it one at a time, wait a little time between each.
Pull an infertile egg each time also, if you can. If she’s a hen that won’t allow you near her, then swapping the eggs out would probably be easiest and safest.

 

[hoppingchicks]

Good point that I can't tell ya since I don't use bators.

@WVduckchick?
@HollowOfWisps ?

I was honestly confused for a minute at the word bators then I was like ohhhh i get it

 

[hoppingchicks]

I am also confident that she would accept the eggs if you swap them out, and they would likely be fine.

But I would also consider just giving the ducklings to her once they hatch in the incubator. Does your hen mind if you mess with her and her nest? If she allows you to get close, you could slip the ducklings under her. I’d do it one at a time, wait a little time between each.
Pull an infertile egg each time also, if you can. If she’s a hen that won’t allow you near her, then swapping the eggs out would probably be easiest and safest.

yeah um, she's actually not my broody .....but she is broody in one of my boxes and my neighbour said it was ok to put my eggs under her I'm just looking after her for a time so I'm not bonded with her......but she seems to be accepting the one duck egg that I just put under her (at the moment)

 

[WVduckchick]

yeah um, she's actually not my broody .....but she is broody in one of my boxes and my neighbour said it was ok to put my eggs under her I'm just looking after her for a time so I'm not bonded with her......but she seems to be accepting the one duck egg that I just put under her (at the moment)

Oh wow. Will the neighbor take the hen back and you keep the babies?

One of my favorite things about raising fowl is watching the moms teach the babies.