Found duck eggs the other day

[Slothy]

Found these duck eggs early yesterday morning at 10am and at 11am they had no duck sitting on them and were a little cold, we went back at 4pm to have a look and still there was no mother duck on them, the eggs were a little spread out (not all grouped together, five on one side and four on the other but from the amount it was obvious the duck had stopped laying (and had possibly been tampered with, there are nine eggs). They were in very public view as well (imagine if the wrong person found them) so we decided the best thing to do was to take them and keep them warm at home just to give them more of a chance. There was a female duck squashed on the road pretty much opposite...maybe they were her eggs?

We did an egg candling on some of them last night, I will attach an image of one of them (going to do some more tonight). Can someone with a bit more experience tell me a bit more about this egg? and how we should keep them? At the moment we have been keeping them at room temperature with a bit of warmth from the heater, they were quite cold when we decided to take them home.

 

[kwhites634]

Found these duck eggs early yesterday morning at 10am and at 11am they had no duck sitting on them and were a little cold, we went back at 4pm to have a look and still there was no mother duck on them, the eggs were a little spread out (not all grouped together, five on one side and four on the other but from the amount it was obvious the duck had stopped laying (and had possibly been tampered with, there are nine eggs). They were in very public view as well (imagine if the wrong person found them) so we decided the best thing to do was to take them and keep them warm at home just to give them more of a chance. There was a female duck squashed on the road pretty much opposite...maybe they were her eggs?

We did an egg candling on some of them last night, I will attach an image of one of them (going to do some more tonight). Can someone with a bit more experience tell me a bit more about this egg? and how we should keep them? At the moment we have been keeping them at room temperature with a bit of warmth from the heater, they were

You have an incubator? I don't know enough about duck eggs to be of much help to you, but I know someone who does. I think they've mostly all gone to bed for the night, but if you can get over to the "She said/he said" thread in the morning & leave a msg for WVDUCKCHICK I'm sure she'd be more than happy to advise you.

 

[Slothy]

You have an incubator? I don't know enough about duck eggs to be of much help to you, but I know someone who does. I think they've mostly all gone to bed for the night, but if you can get over to the "She said/he said" thread in the morning & leave a msg for WVDUCKCHICK I'm sure she'd be more than happy to advise you.

Thank you!! I'd be pleased if she could, I will have more photos too

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you!! I'd be pleased if she could, I will have more photos too

WV won't be on til morn, I think, but I can give you some advice for now...

First, it does sound like that was the mom you saw if they were that cold... so no worries about 'robbing' a nest... partially incubated eggs can be cool for a while and still be viable, but if it was too long do not be upset if they don't make it... you are trying and that is what counts...

Ok, do you have a thermometer anywhere? If so, grab it and place it next to the eggs... angle a desk lamp down over them until temp stays steady at 99-101 degrees...
Good job in candling, check for any movements... if they move on their own then they're still alive... sniff each one (no, not joking) if any stink bad toss them immediately... those are bad and could explode...
Try and please post more pics and we can go from there...

 

[ekalf33]

I have done the same thing. There were a couple of duck eggs at a local pond, they were unattended and I took them and raised them up. I found an old dehydrator and used that to incubate them. the humidity was really hard to get under control and I had to help them out of their shell, but it worked and it can be done. They are now fully grown and as happy as can be keeping the weeds and veggies taken care of in my garden. Basically they are incubated the same way a chicken would be except that it takes about a week longer to hatch them. I will post a link to my incubation thread. If you still have questions I am sure that she will still help you out, or I can try. Amylynn2374 helped me out a TON!!! she is regarded as the humidity queen. She might help out a little, but she is busy with a little one in the mornings I believe. She also likes ducks.


this is my duckling thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/989635/first-time-hatching-ducklings-home-made-bator

and this is my homemade bator thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/989421/super-budget-incubator

The main thing is to bring them up to temperature and keep it as consistent for as long as possible. i have heard of times when people's incubator shut off for a good 8 hours and they came back to tempuratures at 80 and then brought the temps back up and had a good hatch. I think everything will be fine. great job on saving them.

 

[Slothy]

Thank you so much for all the feedback! Sadly I do not have an incubator so since I found them they have been sitting in a lined box by the heater...They are warm to the touch though. I have a desk lamp, should I keep it shining over them? I also found a thermometer! Will try to get them up to that temperature. There is a smelly egg, will get rid of that one today.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you so much for all the feedback! Sadly I do not have an incubator so since I found them they have been sitting in a lined box by the heater...They are warm to the touch though. I have a desk lamp, should I keep it shining over them? I also found a thermometer! Will try to get them up to that temperature. There is a smelly egg, will get rid of that one today.

The heater might cause too much moisture loss in the eggs, so yes I'd switch it over to the lamp... just make sure to keep the thermometer next to the eggs and don't fry them, lol... start with lamp further away and slowly bring it closer until it gets to temp...

 

[Slothy]

Just switched over to the lamp

 

[mixedUPturk]

Thank you so much for all the feedback! Sadly I do not have an incubator so since I found them they have been sitting in a lined box by the heater...They are warm to the touch though. I have a desk lamp, should I keep it shining over them? I also found a thermometer! Will try to get them up to that temperature. There is a smelly egg, will get rid of that one today.

WV said she was swamped at work today, although she does know that you need help. I am a Newb but i have 25 viable duck eggs in my incubator comparing tour pics to mine? Theyre only a few days-one week into incubation. Deffinitly use every themometer u have, and check them for accuracy if possible, either against one another, or, there is an ice water test thats pretty simple, although not 100% accurate. A heat lamp over them is a good idea, especially if you have no idea what their temps are ranging, but be very careful not to overheat the babies right now! You want the temp and humidity to stay as even as possible. If you live in a dry climate u might want to look into using a bowl, covered with saran wrap, with some damp paper towels inside for humidity. Here in South LA my humidity is so high i dont put any water in my bator.

Incubating and Hatching 101 in required reading could help you alot, from one newcomer to another, good luck!

 

[mixedUPturk]

The heater might cause too much moisture loss in the eggs, so yes I'd switch it over to the lamp... just make sure to keep the thermometer next to the eggs and don't fry them, lol... start with lamp further away and slowly bring it closer until it gets to temp...

Hi Rayvn!

Shes alot more knowledgable than i am! Good person i know on another thread!