Mama Duck Attacked!!

[katharinad]

Looks like you have a wide range of developmental stage. The dark ones are really close. I would suggest to sort them according to darkness. The darker the closer they are to hatch. There is just nothing you can see, and further candling will not show more. Their body is occupying the space. This will be interesting to follow. Remember to stop turning those that wiggle. You may have a staggered hatch. It's hard to say how many will make it, but I'm glad you are giving it a try.
Katharina

 

[chikky]

I'm sorry how this situation came about, but it continues to be very educational for me. Good luck with the eggs! What you're doing must be working!

 

[MamacatPatch]

Just a quick update.

Still candling, still turning eggs three times a day. Got the temp steady at 99-100.

No sign of movement yet.

Will keep you posted!!

 

[MamacatPatch]

Ok two of the eggs have sprung a leak! My guess is that these are NOT viable eggs and one of the many I am probably 'cooking' that are filled with nothing but rot. There is no pecking evidences, just a brown ooze. Should I toss them or wait to see if anything else happens with them? Hope they don't explode! YUCK.

I candled them all again last night and a few are totally solid black except for the air hole at the wide end. I sure hope those are ducks! Some I can see veins, some I can't. Others I could see liquid in it that moves when I move the egg which is most likely NOT a duck but just an infertile egg that's being cooked.

Comments?

 

[katharinad]

Throw the oozing ones out. Viable eggs don't do that. That is normal in nature, and mother ducks will kick those out of their nest too. Continue with the rest of the eggs. Don' get discouraged if you loose more eggs. We are all rooting for at least 2 chicks to make it.
Katharina

 

[chickboss]

I have never heard of an egg that leaked once pipped, and if there is a smell, toss them. I would have to agree that the ones that look fluid filled are probably not ducks at this point. Unless someone else chimes in and says differently, at this point, with two already leaking, I would toss those to in order to advoid the exploding egg thing.

The dark ones with air cells sound like eggs getting close to hatch! So exciting! And I would keep anything showing veins for sure!

 

[MamacatPatch]

Well, one of the eggs did explode !! GAG!! How revolting ... slimy smelly rot all over some of the other eggs and the glass! Tossed that one and the other leaking ones. They were all from the 'maybe' list too! From now on, the leaky ones get tossed ASAP!

Washed them all, changed the towel, wiped the glass and set em up again!

On a side note ... we let Papa duck loose with the other four ducks we'd bought in March and it's SO funny watching him! [He was with Mama Duck in a separate pen before.] He is quite a character, running right into their midst, nuzzling them, running around with them, quacking up a storm, etc. The four ducks are white pekin so they are a bit bigger than he is, but not enough to matter. The four ducks were raised with six weeder geese so the geese are a bit defensive about Papa Duck, but it's only been about four or five days so I'm hoping they'll let Papa Duck join the 'duck/geese gang' soon. He is also quite tame now and loves to see us and when he escaped twice, he was easy to catch and put back. They are all in a very wide fenced area with our three goats and a few of our roosters.

 

[chickboss]

Ewwww! Yuck! I don't envy you having to clean that up!

Good to hear Papa is out socializing! Sounds like a lot of fun to watch!

 

[MamacatPatch]

One more egg oozed so it got tossed.

Nine left!

It *should* be *about* 28 days by next weekend!!!

 

[chickboss]

can you see movement in the other eggs? Or are they too dark?