First-Timer

[Miss Lydia]

Very dangerous letting them sit outside predators are everywhere.

 

[littlecollier]

Should I move the nest into their coop?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That may upset them too much. When did they commit?

 

[littlecollier]

Well ... it’s been quite some time and I was ready to take the eggs fearing they were rotten but I went outside today to find this!

We have at least one duckling trying to hatch ... I haven’t seen any movement in several hours (which I know is normal with the initial pip) but most of the photos I saw of this stage just showed a star shaped crack, not a beak.

Since Mama Duck and Mother Nature have gotten it this far, I plan to leave them, but let me know if there’s a time (maybe in a few days?) that I should start to worry.

Exciting times.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They take their sweet time so just give them time! Looks exciting!

 

[littlecollier]

26 hours later ...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not making progress at all?

 

[littlecollier]

Basically looked the same as yesterday. I didn’t detect any movement but it’s hard to tell with Mama trying to scare me off.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d candle.

 

[littlecollier]

I’d candle.

This is going to sound stupid but what should I be looking for when I candle? Movement? Or something else?