HELP!!! I need to move by brooding duck indoors!

[ASweet]

Hello! I live in Arizona and the temperature is now going well above 108 degrees. I’m worried that my duck and her eggs will not survive the heat. I want to move her, her eggs, and as much of her nest as possible but, I’m afraid she will either ignore her eggs or try to destroy them...as, did the last clutch. I’m also worried that if the eggs do hatch, the chicks will follow her into the pool and will not be able to get out. Any advice is so much appreciated!!!

 

[Isaac 0]

I've never had luck with moving broody ducks, as with others. These are chicks, and how far along are the eggs into incaution?

 

[ASweet]

I've never had luck with moving broody ducks, as with others. These are chicks, and how far along are the eggs into incaution?

A little over two weeks.

 

[ASweet]

A little over two weeks.

I’m nervous because I don’t have an incubator large enough for all 13 eggs.

 

[Inak]

I know nothing about this, but just brainstorming- if you can't move the nest, could you put a tub or tubs of ice near the nest and replace it with fresh ice two or three times a day? And/or put up a heavy shade cloth and wet both the cloth and the ground? Evaporative cooling as the ice melts and the water evaporates won't "solve" anything, but you might get a temperature drop of several degrees, which would help.

 

[ASweet]

I know nothing about this, but just brainstorming- if you can't move the nest, could you put a tub or tubs of ice near the nest and replace it with fresh ice two or three times a day? And/or put up a heavy shade cloth and wet both the cloth and the ground? Evaporative cooling as the ice melts and the water evaporates won't "solve" anything, but you might get a temperature drop of several degrees, which would help.

Thank you for responding! Unfortunately, the heat in AZ is a dry heat so, water evaporates quickly. I am constantly putting ice in their fresh water but, it’s warm again in less than an hour. I did put an umbrella over the nest to protect her from the sun. I do water the garden every other day and her nest is in the middle of a huge one so I’m watering around the edges. It hasn’t been enough.

 

[sourland]

I've never had luck with moving broody ducks, as with others. These are chicks, and how far along are the eggs into incaution?

This has also been my experience. I would try to shade and make her as comfortable as possible in her present location. If she does successfully hatch ducklings, I would not allow them onto the pool until they are several weeks old and assure that it was easy for them to get out. Good luck.