Hatching ducklings - need assistance. :)

[minirexmom]

I have a Pekin duck that has been setting on 12 eggs. She has left the nest with 11 ducklings so I went out and checked her nest and there is one egg still in it and it is half hatched. She doesn't seem to interested in returning to the nest.

I am not sure if I should intervene and if so, how to go about ensuring that this duckling hatches out safely.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Wifezilla]

It needs to stay warm. Do you have a heating blanket or even a desk lamp?

 

[minirexmom]

I have an incubator, a lamp for our chicken brooder or a regular 60 watt lamp bulb.

 

[Wifezilla]

Just put the egg in the incubator and make sure the humidity is up.

 

[minirexmom]

I have never used the incubator before. We just borrowed it from the Ag teacher at our local high school. It is a Hova-bator 2362. I put water in the middle tray section and the temp is about 100.

Is that reasonable?

 

[vfem]

That sounds about right. You shouldn't need to keep her in there too long since she's started hatching. You just need it reasonably moist and warm! 99-100 degrees at this point.

 

[Wifezilla]

 

[minirexmom]

About how long does it usually take them to hatch? He is remaining firm in his shell and the membrane is pretty papery dry. there is a hole big enough for his beak (and a tad more) to poke out but that is about it.

 

[Wifezilla]

If the membrane is dry you may need more humidity. It took my duck 3 days from the time they pipped until they actually got out of the egg.

 

[minirexmom]

Many thanks to all the replies! I am pretty new to the poultry part of animal husbandry.