Illinois...

[BReeder!]

Our broody duck is sitting on 21 eggs! Uh oh! It was 22 apparently, but she kicked a bad one out the nest. I imagine there will be a few other bad ones that she tosses on the next week or so, but there is a chance we will be overrun with ducklings.

 

[Molpet]

Has anyone ever moved eggs when pipped? Do they hatch?

I set up my NR 360 last night as a hatcher for the duck eggs (due Th-Fri). Although it looked good after an hour, I decided to let it go and transfer the eggs this morning. 2 out 7 are externally pipped! Yikes!

My coolerbater incubator was at 40% humidity, so I know they'll appreciate the bump up to 70%. I just hope I didn't shrinkwrap them by the move across the room to the other incubator. I don't want to be known as a duck murderer.

Get the humdity up in the room with a humidifier or boiling water

 

[Faraday40]

same here.
No change in Pip status.

The incubator is usually at 30-35% (semi-dry incubation technique), so having it jump up to 40% this morning was strange .... until I saw the 2 pips. I don't think they were there last night, but I didn't really look. Today is day 25 or 26, so hopefully the pips are just early and not an early hatch.

Ducklings are cute and when you said they only take 8 weeks 'til processing size, I admit I did think about it...... Yet, I'm not really a duck person, so whatever hatches will be returned to you.

One of my neighbors feeds the mallards daily. They're nesting here and feed off the generosity of most of the neighborhood. It's been going on for years so they always return. The trickster part of me thought to release them and allow the neighborhood to feed them for me. LOL

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Our broody duck is sitting on 21 eggs! Uh oh! It was 22 apparently, but she kicked a bad one out the nest. I imagine there will be a few other bad ones that she tosses on the next week or so, but there is a chance we will be overrun with ducklings.

 

[Justso]

I got a message from Angie @ sunset barn that my chicks are ready! Did someone else need a pickup? I'm headed out on Thursday.

 

[cavemanrich]

but there is a chance we will be overrun with ducklings.

 

[Justso]

Will I find black soldier flies here? I've been wondering if anyone else has had any luck attracting them in the Chicago area.

Okay, so Teri said they're present around here but not in any notable numbers, and difficult to attract. It seems their peak season is hot summer.

 

[ILChickenTV]

Okay, so Teri said they're present around here but not in any notable numbers, and difficult to attract. It seems their peak season is hot summer.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Faraday40]

The 2 pipped duck eggs hatched out this morning. Most of the other eggs are pipped. I decided to remove them from the incubator. I never heard such a racket as they pounded their bills into the plexiglass and played soccer with the eggs. They are adorable, though....

I put them into the brooder with my silkie. She's now a mom to Orpingtons, Seramas, Quail, and Ducklings. She didn't notice or care that her new babies are different.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I put another 5 seramas eggs in the inky after the last 10 completely bombed. All 5 were alive and squirming until 2 days ago. Yesterday I saw movement in 3. Today it's now only 2. One of the 2 pipped today. At least there's still 1 more so I won't have a lonely only. I put 7 more in a few days ago and have another 6 to go in. It's going to take me all summer to get seramas, but maybe I'll get there 1 or 2 at a time.

Broody drama continues. My poor ccl has stuck to it and endured much harassment from other hens, but has 1 egg that still looks good. Now she's got a BB lav that desperately wants HER eggs. I've pulled her off of her I don't know how many times. And a few times I've found a very upset ccl looking at HER nest while this THIEF kicked her out and stole her eggs! Needless to say its time to bring her into the garage as soon as spitzier and her babies go to their new home tomorrow. I also appear to have a broody chocolate that possibly started today. I've NEVER had this many broodies!!!!