Ducklings hatched in October?

[WVduckchick]

So to get you even more excited, I found a pic of where one of mine decided to sit, when I had to fence her off from my dogs. I left an opening close to the wooden fence where she could come out, but the dogs can’t get that close to the fence with their shock collars, so they couldn’t get thru the opening.

And with her babies.

 

[Alaskan]

Please explain why rocks need to be in the water? Large rocks or pebbles? To prevent drowning?
I love your picture!!

Thanks!
And yes, due to drowning. The little ducklings have the hardest time getting in and out of water containers of any kind.

 

[The Quack Shack]

So to get you even more excited, I found a pic of where one of mine decided to sit, when I had to fence her off from my dogs. I left an opening close to the wooden fence where she could come out, but the dogs can’t get that close to the fence with their shock collars, so they couldn’t get thru the opening.
View attachment 1567554


And with her babies.
View attachment 1567555

So cute! Ducklings are the absolute cutest things! I hope mine do as well as yours.

 

[The Quack Shack]

Well, I am concerned about our Jill and her nesting. It has been one month since she started setting on her eggs - no ducklings yet. She has been getting off her nest for long periods of time. This morning she was off of it before the frost melted - quite cold and she hasn't returned to it. One egg is rather gray looking. I don't know what is going on. Do ducks abandon their nests if the eggs aren't any good? Advice please? Thanks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have you candled? As far as leaving the nest if eggs aren’t going to hatch I had a Muscovy sit 4 days after the rest of her duckling had hatched. Finally I determined by candling and just guess work it wasn’t going to hatch. Usually dead ducklings in the shell the egg doesn’t retain heat like live ducklings will for a while. That’s all I know.

 

[WVduckchick]

Well, I am concerned about our Jill and her nesting. It has been one month since she started setting on her eggs - no ducklings yet. She has been getting off her nest for long periods of time. This morning she was off of it before the frost melted - quite cold and she hasn't returned to it. One egg is rather gray looking. I don't know what is going on. Do ducks abandon their nests if the eggs aren't any good? Advice please? Thanks.

That long, this close to the end, is not a good sign. Did she ever go back?

Can you get to the nest to candle the eggs? Or sneak a couple of them out of the nest, candle, and return them?? I can see them being late, but they don't leave the nest for extended periods of time, this far along.

 

[The Quack Shack]

Have you candled? As far as leaving the nest if eggs aren’t going to hatch I had a Muscovy sit 4 days after the rest of her duckling had hatched. Finally I determined by candling and just guess work it wasn’t going to hatch. Usually dead ducklings in the shell the egg doesn’t retain heat like live ducklings will for a while. That’s all I know.

I am going to try and candle an egg tomorrow. Can you tell me the easiest way to do it? If the duckling is fully developed what should I actually be looking for - movement or just a shape? So you said the egg won't retain heat if it isn't going to hatch. If it is a developing duckling will the egg remain warm when Jill is off the nest for a while? Thank you for responding!

 

[The Quack Shack]

That long, this close to the end, is not a good sign. Did she ever go back?

Can you get to the nest to candle the eggs? Or sneak a couple of them out of the nest, candle, and return them?? I can see them being late, but they don't leave the nest for extended periods of time, this far along.

Yes, she did go back in the early afternoon and stayed on it the rest of the day. I didn't think the eggs were supposed to get cold? The next time she is off her nest I am going to try to candle a couple of them. She only has five eggs. How do you candle your eggs? This will be a first for me. She is so unbelievably mean when she is on her nest! Thank you for responding!

 

[Miss Lydia]

For candling take the eggs into a dark space use a good LED flashlight most likely if they are close to hatching you probably won’t see much but duckling. Smell can give you an idea too if any are going rotten. Handle with care. My goose was sitting on eggs and the day before they were due to hatch I candled and the egg was toasty warm even carrying over to the next coop to the feed room,the next day when I took the egg to candle by the time I got to the coop with the dark room the egg had already cooled off pretty good I knew right away the gosling had died.

 

[The Quack Shack]

For candling take the eggs into a dark space use a good LED flashlight most likely if they are close to hatching you probably won’t see much but duckling. Smell can give you an idea too if any are going rotten. Handle with care. My goose was sitting on eggs and the day before they were due to hatch I candled and the egg was toasty warm even carrying over to the next coop to the feed room,the next day when I took the egg to candle by the time I got to the coop with the dark room the egg had already cooled off pretty good I knew right away the gosling had died.

Thank you. I will check an egg tomorrow if it isn't raining too hard. That's another concern - at times when she gets off the nest, she tucks the eggs in where you can hardly see them. Other times, her nest is wide open and her eggs are totally exposed. We will see if she leaves the nest in the rain tomorrow??? I have been worried about having ducklings this time of year but I also have been anticipating having them! We will see...….. Thanks for your information!