- Jun 13, 2014
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I have two first-time Welsh Harlequins moms who have been sitting side-by-side (now more like one large) nests of about a dozen eggs each and are around day 38. I have four live ducklings, four found dead in the nest (fully formed, feathered and out of shell), one found in the nest dead with membrane around it but no egg and three that looked rotten and were cold and I opened them and found fully formed dead ducklings inside. I noted that one of those last three had egg tooth marks on the air pocket end of the shell before I opened it.
The hens have had full access throughout the day (at least 14 hours a day) to fresh water pans and a circulating and filtered pond.
There are still eggs in the nest and I would love to have more ducklings (who wouldn't). Please help. What can I do to improve the odds for any that are still alive and in the shell. I haven't candled any of the remaining, so don't know if any are still alive.
I have thought one of the hens swam in the pond more than the other during the brooding period.
Anyone have an ideas on why they have died and how the save any of the rest.
They are both being fabulous moms to the four alive.
My thanks in advance !!!
The hens have had full access throughout the day (at least 14 hours a day) to fresh water pans and a circulating and filtered pond.
There are still eggs in the nest and I would love to have more ducklings (who wouldn't). Please help. What can I do to improve the odds for any that are still alive and in the shell. I haven't candled any of the remaining, so don't know if any are still alive.
I have thought one of the hens swam in the pond more than the other during the brooding period.
Anyone have an ideas on why they have died and how the save any of the rest.
They are both being fabulous moms to the four alive.
My thanks in advance !!!