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If an egg has been in the water is it no longer viable to hatch????

Discussion in 'Ducks' started by jmsim93, Jan 23, 2010.

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  1. Jan 23, 2010 #1
    jmsim93

    jmsim93 Out Of The Brooder

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    Oct 29, 2009
    East Texas
    My ducks have just begun to lay and I found one of the eggs on the edge of the bank, partially in water. It had only been there for a couple of hours at most. Does this damage the egg to where it will not hatch???
     
  3. Jan 23, 2010 #2
    ljf24

    ljf24 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Jun 4, 2009
    TN
    Im not sure about duck eggs, but if it gets to humid in an incubator I know it can drown the embryo in a chicken egg.
     
  5. Jan 23, 2010 #3
    crazybarnlady

    crazybarnlady Out Of The Brooder

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    Jan 5, 2010
    langley, BC, Canada
    I don't think so, but I am no expert on hatching eggs. My ducks have quite often laid this winter in or near the water- but hopefully someone more experienced will chime in.

    duck eggs are a lot more impervious to water than chicken eggs, and if it has not been started yet I don't think it matters.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2010
  7. Jan 24, 2010 #4
    Sweetfolly

    Sweetfolly Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Apr 17, 2009
    Kildare, Wisconsin
    I remember reading a story (I think it was here on BYC, but I'm not 100% sure) about someone who found a nest of mallard eggs submerged underwater when a river or creek flooded, and managed to hatch ducklings from them - I think 2 hatched.

    Anyway, the point of my sketchy story is that it is possible - it shouldn't hurt anything to try incubating it for a week and see if it develops at all.
     
  9. Jan 24, 2010 #5
    jmsim93

    jmsim93 Out Of The Brooder

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    Oct 29, 2009
    East Texas
    Quote:Great! Thanks for the feedback. I have never incubated before but a friend of mine is going to let me have his incubator because he only uses broody hens now. I will be looking at a lot of post to try and learn the basics. :)
     

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