Help! Mama duck was eaten, now trying to save 2 eggs

[Lacrystol]

Can the eggs be rinsed quickly and dried?

NOOO don't rinse them..

 

[Lacrystol]

OK so how many eggs are we talking? Have the eggs dipped YET?

 

[lovinchicks]

only 2 of them survived the rest were cracked open. I saw one move when candled. The other was really hard to see into so I'm not sure if it is alive. The eggs were cold when we found them. I'm not sure what have they dipped yet means?

 

[lovinchicks]

I'm wondering too. My mallard made a nest at my neighbors house and is sitting on them over there. I would hate for a predator to get her too. I would probably be able to catch her since she is on the nest. Could I do that and move her nest inside my barn or would she abandon the eggs at that point??

 

[Lacrystol]

Ok Dipping, Dipping is when the air cell falls to one side, if you notice when you first start out the air cell is a circle on the top of the larger end of the shell. Once it gets close to hatching time, the air cell takes a huge dip to one side.


NO do not move the nest, chances are the momma duck will not like this and quit sitting on the eggs. Your best bet is to try and give her a temporary confinement. OR leave her a lone, hopefully she is blending in to where she's easily missed.

I had one of my calls hatch eggs out in the woods and came home with seven babies. She blended in sooo well preditors didn't even know it..

 

[Miss Lydia]

It sure is taking a risk though and not one I would be willing to take sorry I don't usually go against anything Lacrystol says, she's my go to Doc with hatching questions and help on here but you need to decide if it's a risk your willing to take. I have a friend who just scooped nest an all up with a shovel and moved her broody's nest inside but she was alot closer to her house too moving that nest would probably not work. Since she's not near your home. Unless you can catch your duck confine her move the nest and eggs and then reunite them. But it's a risk either way. She may get taken or she'll give up the nest of eggs.

 

[Lacrystol]

If she's a first time Mommy, she most likely will quit if that nest is messed with..If she's NOT a first time mommy chances are she's got a really good spot and would not put her eggs or herself into harms way. Ducks are pretty intelligent when it comes to keep those babies safe. I would not risk moving her, if she's gotten this far chances are she's in a good hidden spot...

 

[ampho]

we hatched mallard eggs from a nest in a construction site that the mother took off and didnt come back. We used a chicken incubator and looked up the temp and times, All 6 hatched, we raised them until they could fly (similar to chickens but we made a small pond for them!) and then let them go in the state park. Wild ducks are so naturally intuitive. The eggs were not warmed for at least a full day and they survived! Good Luck!

 

[lovinchicks]

This is where she decided to make her nest. Can you see her on top of the straw pile. Not the best place. This is her 3rd time hatching. Before she was right in the middle of my peppermint and you couldn't see her at all. A much better hiding spot than this!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is where she decided to make her nest. Can you see her on top of the straw pile. Not the best place. This is her 3rd time hatching. Before she was right in the middle of my peppermint and you couldn't see her at all. A much better hiding spot than this!!

I hope the neighbors don't have dogs. she is the example of "The Sitting Duck"