First time Muscovy Hen hatch Question

[louieloui]

We just purchased four Muscovy ducks (3 hens, 1 drake) back in April--from two separate people--and one of our girls went broody right away. We were told by the original owner of the breeding pair that they weren't sure if the drake was actually hitting his mark yet, so I wasn't expecting any ducklings. Last week I figured I'd candle them for kicks and lo and behold I saw BIG air cells and ducklings moving around.

Tonight I went to check on the eggs and mama hen is on the nest full force, didn't want to go eat (unlike last night), but let me prod around to candle a couple of eggs. My daughter and I spotted one that had pipped and had quite a nice hole...but was somewhat shrinkwrapped. Duckling is still peeping and breathing and moving around. I wet her membranes and opened her hole a bit more. No veins, no bleeding, and gave her back to mama for now.

I don't have an incubator set up and running currently, but I did prepare the brooder. I had planned to remove the ducklings from mama to keep them safe as I'm not sure how papa drake will react to them, plus the mama hens like to fly over the fence a lot and I don't want them to leave the ducklings unattended. We also have chickens in with the ducks and while I think they'd leave the ducklings alone, there's always a chance they will attack them.

QUESTION: If I need to continue to assist the duckling hatch (and potentially any others), can I keep it under the heat lamp in the brooder or does it absolutely need the humidity (like in an incubator)?

 

[sourland]

In my experience Muscovy ducklings have been vigorous. I think the less that you interfere the greater your chances for a successful hatch.

 

[louieloui]

For sure, but given the one baby was shrinkwrapped, and the humidity isn't very high here at the moment, I am worried that the other ducklings may end up in the same predicament. I'd rather help out the ones that need it than lose them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

For sure, but given the one baby was shrinkwrapped, and the humidity isn't very high here at the moment, I am worried that the other ducklings may end up in the same predicament. I'd rather help out the ones that need it than lose them.

The humidity under your Muscovy should be good. They know how to regulate it. Have you taken the eggs out alot and looked at them that is usually how they become shrink wrapped. Can you fix a separate area with in their area for mama and ducklings? seems sad to remove the ducklings from mama after she has sat on them for 35 days.

 

[louieloui]

The humidity under your Muscovy should be good. They know how to regulate it. Have you taken the eggs out alot and looked at them that is usually how they become shrink wrapped. Can you fix a separate area with in their  area for mama and ducklings? seems sad to remove the ducklings from mama after she has sat on them for 35 days.

I only candled them yesterday after she got off of the nest to eat. I thought they still had 5 days to go, especially since she left the nest, but apparently not. This is her first time hatching eggs as she is just 1.5 yrs (I believe is what her previous owner said). I know it seems sad but I don't want any of them to get eaten/hurt. She's in the chicken coop with two broody chickens and another duck who is half-heartedly sitting on eggs. There isn't a good spot to keep mama duck and baby ducks away from papa duck and the other chickens.