HATCHING HELP!

[littlepip]

I currently noticed that my 2 female ducks have started laying eggs. (Pekin and Campbell) they had been mating with my other 2 boy ducks, so I figured the eggs must be fertilized. I let the eggs sit in the pen for a while, to see if one of the girls would sit on them. I waited, but no such luck. I eventually got ahold of a heat lamp, and tried to incubate them. the temp was VERY hard to control. It landed somewhere between 98 degrees and 100 degrees before I decided to leave them alone. (flipping every hour) I came back later, and 1 egg was 104 degrees, while the others were below 95. humidity was good. I want to know if they will be ok if the temp goes a little off. will they die if it gets too hot? PLEASE HELP!

 

[coastingangel]

Hi, I don't have any experience with duck eggs or using a headlamp as a heat source for incubating but I have had issues with chicken eggs getting too hot in an incubator. It was only for a short period and I still managed to get a good hatch rate out of them. If you can keep the temp relatively stable a bit of over or under will be fine.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Welcome to BYC. I would not try incubating with a heat lamp. I'm sure someone somewhere has done it successfully, but it's more time and effort than I'm willing to put in. Check out the articles below if you want ducklings (and yes, I attached a chicken egg article. The basics are the same, except you need a slightly higher humidity and have a week longer of incubation.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-eggs-just-21-days-from-egg-to-chicken.47696/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/incubators-brooders.27/

Also, I would get rid of a drake. Two drakes for two females very seldom turns out well.

 

[littlepip]

thanks. I still want to know if there is a possibility that my eggs will hatch if they get too warm, and im able to cool them down.

 

[littlepip]

I can't get rid of my drake, he's my baby. thanks for the advice though, I'll take it into account.

 

[sylviethecochin]

You may be able to hatch the egg, assuming it doesn't overheat for any significant period of time (and that time varies depending on how healthy the eggs have been up to this point and a variety of other factors.) But you can't control humidity under a heat lamp, and I doubt that they will hatch. Someone here did incubate a duckling under a lamp, and it was on day 26 and still healthy, so it can happen. It's just unlikely. Just ask @KikisGirls.

You should probably get at least four more ducks, or separate out one of your drakes if you're not going to get rid of one. Overmating is a very serious problem in ducks, especially in the heavy breeds, and there are documented cases of drakes raping ducks to death.