Is duck nest OK...??

[Miss Lydia]

Well, it is now day 29 and I don't see any sign of life in the nest... I was on red alert all day yesterday, but nothing. The mummy duck did throw out another egg, but it was warm when I discovered it. I put it back and she didn't kick it out again, so I hope that was OK. She is sitting and sitting, and sometimes the male sits in there with her. I hear nothing in the nest, no cheeping or tapping, but I'm not sure if it would be possible to hear for me. I can get quite close, but if I try to stick my hand or my face in, she pecks me Quite right! I suppose I should just leave her alone!

How long could this take? Does the hatching process take several days? Could there be hatched ducklings under her that I just can't see? Dying of curiosity here!!

@goldenautumnsun - I hope you get a nest soon too! I'm sure they will figure it out!

Put on a pair of gloves and peek, you can even take an egg out and listen if you want to. she may get upset but she'll get over it. Or wait till she is off the nest then go and have a look or take a few eggs inside i n a dark closet and candle. but hatching does take quite a while and ducklings don't go by the calender either. they have their own timetable.

 

[Blondiega1]

My Pekin hen that hatched 10 this spring took 35 days to hatch them all.
I'd give it a full 35 days before getting worried.
She's on her own time line not yours. LOL

 

[irisshiller]

Hi everyone, well it was a busy day today! It was day 30 today and finally the eggs hatched!! In the morning, I discovered some empty shells next to the nest, then in the course of the day I kept peeking, until in the late afternoon I was greeted by this:


<3 What a wonderful sight!! I haven't been able to count them all, but there are at least 7.
I took your advice about finding them a safer place to heart and I have been busy preparing one of the big cages for them. It was easy to pick up the carrier and move the entire family (dad too!) to their new quarters. I hope they will be safe and happy there until they are big enough to be released.

This is just amazing!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone, well it was a busy day today! It was day 30 today and finally the eggs hatched!! In the morning, I discovered some empty shells next to the nest, then in the course of the day I kept peeking, until in the late afternoon I was greeted by this:


<3 What a wonderful sight!! I haven't been able to count them all, but there are at least 7.
I took your advice about finding them a safer place to heart and I have been busy preparing one of the big cages for them. It was easy to pick up the carrier and move the entire family (dad too!) to their new quarters. I hope they will be safe and happy there until they are big enough to be released.

This is just amazing!

Isn't that precious, Congratulations!! Your going to enjoy this so much. be sure to keep up with pics

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

Hi everyone, I'm here to pick your brains again

I have a mallard duck who is sitting on a nest of eggs at the moment. She had in total 12 eggs if I counted right. The eggs are due to hatch this Wednesday and excitement and tension are mounting She made a nest next to the pond between the bamboo. I was worried about the nest flooding in the rainy season, so I transferred the whole thing into a cat carrier which I placed in the same spot. She accepted it and is brooding happily in there. The male is keeping watch.

There have been some heavy rains but as far as I can see the nest has stayed dry. A few days ago, she kicked 2 eggs out of her nest. They were cold when I discovered them. We opened them and there were 2 dead ducklings inside. I wonder why she did this? Did she know the ducklings were dead and did she throw them out for that reason?

Last night, the pond filling system seems to have malfunctioned and the whole area around the pond was flooded. I am so worried the nest got flooded as well! I can't really see too well inside, the mother doesn't ever seem to leave the carrier, but the straw by the opening is wet. When I get too close, the male stresses and the female hisses at me. I should probably leave her to it and hope for the best, but I can't stop worrying! Will the eggs be OK even if they got wet? It seems to be nests would get rained on all the time in nature, but who knows.

This is her:



Thanks and regards from a hysterical first time duck mummy

Does your duck lay on the eggs until they hatch or does she leave them and not lay on them regularly so they die? I would like to know because I want my ducks to have babies but not to have to put them in the incubator.

 

[irisshiller]

@Crazy4Fowl - my duck laid an egg every day fot about 2 weeks, then she started sitting on them. In the beginning she was on and of a bit, but after a few days she stayed put the whole day and night and almost never left the nest. But there are many more experienced people on here whi can advise you. Good luck!!

 

[buff goose guy]

Usually a duck will go broody and stay broody, only when something traumatic happens will they usually abandon the nest

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

@Crazy4Fowl - my duck laid an egg every day fot about 2 weeks, then she started sitting on them. In the beginning she was on and of a bit, but after a few days she stayed put the whole day and night and almost never left the nest. But there are many more experienced people on here whi can advise you. Good luck!!

Usually a duck will go broody and stay broody, only when something traumatic happens will they usually abandon the nest

Thanks!

 

[irisshiller]

Just an update: 11 incredibly cute little ducklings hatched!

She had more eggs than I thought! 11 hatched, 2 eggs kicked out before and 5 eggs unhatched left in the nest! I think one of those is a chicken egg though, fortunately that one didn't hatch

 

[Mccluckers]

Just an update: 11 incredibly cute little ducklings hatched! She had more eggs than I thought! 11 hatched, 2 eggs kicked out before and 5 eggs unhatched left in the nest! I think one of those is a chicken egg though, fortunately that one didn't hatch

so sweet!!