HELP! Mother Duck Killed- How long can Eggs Survive W/O Heat?

[ancona91]

Hello Kathy and Fellow Duck Lovers!!!!
I would have responded sooner, but DH was hogging the laptop(smile). Congrats on the arrival of Duck Norris(gotta love that name!!)!!!! Sounds like he and Kramer are happy and healthy......and very lively!! It's funny.....why do chickens and ducks LOVE styrofoam???! I had an injured chicken recently get out of her crate and start eating my incubator(smile)......thankfully she didn't get very far.
Kathy, you can leave them in the bator for a while if you like.......the yolk provides them with nutrition for about 3 days. If they get too rambunctious or it seems as though they're getting too hot, you can put them in a brooder with a small water font and some food. You're doing such a wonderful job!!!!
I hope you'll post more pics soon!!!! Any names in line for the next one born?!? I'll never tire of watching ducklings and chicks hatch.......it'll never get "old" no matter how many times I witness it. Last year I hatched 120 ducklings.....not too many this year (so far), only 30. I've been hatching mostly chicks from my own flock.....and from eggs I bought online(Delawares, Orps, BLRW's).
Thanks for your frequent updates, Kathy!!! They're really appreciated!!!! Have a wonderful night!!!
Kathy

 

[chickeepoo]

Oh, I was hoping you'd be online, Kathy! Yes, that little Kramer is getting a little rowdy between rest stops… I was afraid he'd jostle the other pipping eggs too much or smush a freshly hatched sibling. The incubator is a basic still air type, foam box about 20x20", no light, and not a ton of room for him to go "walk about" without tripping over the others… plus their little claws get caught from time time in both the wire and the washcloth I cut in 4 pieces and put down for them to rest on and the others to hatch on more easily. Kramer was sleeping on top of the thermometer/hygrometer for a bit too!

I have egg #3 looking like it's cracked enough for the duckling to start pushing out- is it better to keep the light in that room off so the first 2 will hopefully rest for a while? Or will they need the light on, given the obstacle course the inside of an incubator can become?
And I'm fresh out of names until my brain wakes up…

~ Kathy

*And another one on the way out of the shell at 1:45am… hatched just after 2:00am! That's 3 out, 3 to go. I need a nap.
** Make that another one between 3 and 4:00am- 2 to go.

 

[chickeepoo]

Good morning, Kathy and all! Team Ducky is waiting on the final 2 members to "get crackin'!" (sorry, tired and just had to use that)
Last 2 eggs are pipped, one is coming along well, both still working hard on it- should see their cute little faces soon! I'll put some pics on after I get everything else with a mouth fed around here…

 

[ancona91]

Good Morning!!!!
I fell asleep shortly after my last post to you. Two new ducklings!!!!! Fantastic!!!! I had a feeling it'd go quickly once Kramer hatched......he sounds like such a little character!!! Two more to go......and if they both hatch you've pulled off a Major Victory.......a definite miracle!!!! Even having 4 of them hatch is beyond expectations. Can't wait to see your new pics!!!! What a nail-biting journey this has been.....but such an uplifting one to say the least!!!!
Kathy, I always leave the light on in the incubation room......just my preference. If the chicks or ducklings are tired enough they'll sleep no matter what. And I think your new babies are just so very HAPPY just to be alive that they're "celebrating" (smile). You must be exhausted!!!! I hope you took a long, refreshing nap!!!!!
Speak to you soon!!!!!
Duckling Nanny,
Kathy

 

[ancona91]

Kathy,
I keep forgetting (senility slowly creeps in...smile) to say what a wonderful thing you did by saving the little Mallard!!!! Yea...they become imprinted on humans rather quickly. It's always best not to let that happen....unless you want a "houseduck" for life (been there, done that). If the human/duck bond must be severed for whatever reason, it tends to break their little hearts.....and they just don't realize that they're DUCKS (SMILE). It's always best to have 3 ducks minimum....a mini-flock.
I currently have an indoor duck who was born with a neck issue. Her name is Pogo.....if I post a pic you'll see why I named her that. She's very sweet, a Campbell hybrid who's about a year old now. I wouldn't put her with the large flock(I have 110 ducks)......I wouldn't want her to be potentially picked on. But I DO put her outside every day with 10 other ducks....and bring her in on and off during the day. She sleeps in a crate right by my bed. If I can get a decent pic maybe I'll post it if anyone wants to see her.
Thanks again ,Kathy!!!! People who love ,raise and rescue animals are the most grounded, wonderful people on the planet!!!!!
Kathy

 

[chickeepoo]

Thank you, Kathy- I do get in over my head at times rescuing things…

- but I think if you can male a little space and share your home so they have a chance, I say go for it. There are so many good people (like you, and other BYC'ers) willing to advise and walk us through the process- whether it's incubating eggs, bottle feeding kittens or puppies, hand-feeding TINY new doves, or socializing a frightened feral animal- and it's such a relief when things turn out. When they don't, there's always sadness but a feeling that we gave the animal the best care we could, a shot at life, and lots of love.

It's good for kids to dig in and help out both people and animals in need, and even though we have to give them up sometimes to new homes, we know we're sending a healthy, socialized bundle of love to someone who really wants to have them!

I'm watching the last 2 eggs- they slowed down a bit, probably tired - and I'll set up the others in the brooder. It's hard to get pics with the glare, but I'll try when I move them. They ARE cute!! My oldest son still wants to continue the Seinfeld names with the rest… I don't know about that, whaddya think?

 

[rebecky1305]

Yeah, baby ducklings!! What a wonderful thing. Congratulations and good luck with the last two.

 

[chickeepoo]

Thank you, ReBecky- looking for the last 2 to emerge! Exhausting, but a relief to see them moving around, talking and preening!

 

[chickeepoo]

Kathy, duckling #5 is out as of 2:30- most of them are about the same coloring as Kramer, which is yellow gold with dark head, back and wings, and 2-tone legs and feet. Only Duck Norris came out all dark except for his gold tuxedo! The last egg is taking a while, but it WAS the last to pip into the air cell…I still haven't moved them, hoping their peeping would help hurry the straggler.

I would love to see pics of your "house duck" (but don't let my kids get any ideas…), so please post if you can find some! Does she come to the door and ask to come in for the evening? I did enjoy Mallory, our little mallard hen, while we had her, but it was too obvious that without her duckling companion she quickly forgot her identity. The first time we tried to integrate her into a flock of mallards at my husband's office center, she fled from them and instead went to the parking lot and tried (unsuccessfully) to hitch a ride as each worker went to their car. We brought her home and took her to someone with mallards, who worked her in until she caught on… it was sad to see her so confused, but she did realize she was a duck finally and lived out her days as one. If I had had a yard at that point I would have just brought in a companion for her! ~ Kathy

 

[ancona91]

Hello Kathy And Everyone!!!!!
I'm finally taking a break for a few minutes to once again say "job extremely well done"!!!! So you're just waiting for the last one to finally hatch.....hopefully really soon!!!! They sound TOTALLY ADORABLE!!!! Be sure to post some pics when you have a chance......would LOVE to see those "Grandducks"(smile). Keep us informed as to the last baby!!!
I just brought Pogo in for the night...so I figured I'd take a few new pics. She's the happiest, livliest duck I've ever had. As you can see, her neck extends out sideways....kind of like a pogostick, hence the name. I really didn't think she'd survive long when she was born....but her unending zest for life won out...thank goodness!!! She's such a joy, such a character. She'll knock on the door if I let her....but I have to keep her and her friends in a pen due to all the predators around here. Hope you enjoy the pics....she's a joy to have around. Speak to you a bit later!!!!!
Kathy