Nesting broody duck in EXTREME heat

[jduckymomma]

Here's a few pics I took just after hatching began. I haven't uploaded the more recent ones. They're hard to distinguish in pictures cuz they're (almost) all black fuzzballs! You can clearly see the one that our Blue Swedish, WhatThe, snuck in to the nest!

 

[TomCahalan]

I would start assistance. I have seen so many threads where people waited and regretted it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

I've seen people make up hatchers with a lightbulb, will see if I can find a thread.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Hopefully these links help.
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-3-30-Minute-Egg-Incubator/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/emergency-incubator-what-have-you-used.690945/

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

They are so cute!! Haha she's definetly borrowed some eggs I think! I had a muscovy that use to steal chicken eggs out of nesting boxes to add to her clutch.

 

[jduckymomma]

Well, she has definitely given up on the last two eggs, so I am rushing to try to set up a makeshift incubator right now to give them a fighting chance! I saw one say to put them in a crock pot on low with the lid open. Would that be too hot? I know they need humidity also, and was thinking about adding a bit of water at the bottom of the crock pot and putting them up on a small rack?

Otherwise, I also have a little desk lamp that tends to get quite hot to the touch that I could put in a box with them along with a cup of water for evaporation humidity. Anyone think one idea is better than the other?

 

[jduckymomma]

Just went out and mom had officially completely given up on the last two eggs. They were super cold to the touch, but candling still showed movement :-( For now, I put them in a small cooler wrapped in some old pajamas. I put the previously mentioned really hot desk lamp sticking through the "easy access" port on the cooler lid and a cup of water inside. I had a small thermometer that I use on my patio and put that in there also so I can read the ambient temp. Unfortunately the thermometer doesn't show humidity in there, but I sprayed the two eggs with some warm water before I put them in so that should hopefully help until the cup begins to evaporate. Should I go ahead and open a "safety hole" in the top of the air cell, just in case?

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

If they haven't pipped through the membrane, then a hole in just the shell won't do much, but give an idea on how far along they are. When you candle can you still see any viening? Hopefully someone else jumps on that may have a better knowledge. lamp in the esky is a great idea! I'd be too scared of boiling them on stove too. To help water evaporate from cup better, (if you haven't already) use warm water. And remember, you're doing a great job!

 

[jduckymomma]

The one with the lengthwise air cell doesn't look good. I candled them before setting up my makeshift "incubator", and that egg had what appeared to be loose liquid sloshing around in the air cell side. I popped a little hole to see inside, and it appears that the membrane has completely detached from the shell and the "liquid" I thought I saw was actually the entire membrane sack moving completely loosely around the inside of the egg. When I popped the small hole, the shell was dry and brittle and a good pea sized hole opened up with just a price of the pin. There are still veins in the membrane, but it looks white and dry, and the entire sack is only about a third of the size of the actual egg. Regardless of movement and veins, which I do see, I don't think this one can survive :-(

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

The one with the lengthwise air cell doesn't look good. I candled them before setting up my makeshift "incubator", and that egg had what appeared to be loose liquid sloshing around in the air cell side. I popped a little hole to see inside, and it appears that the membrane has completely detached from the shell and the "liquid" I thought I saw was actually the entire membrane sack moving completely loosely around the inside of the egg. When I popped the small hole, the shell was dry and brittle and a good pea sized hole opened up with just a price of the pin. There are still veins in the membrane, but it looks white and dry, and the entire sack is only about a third of the size of the actual egg. Regardless of movement and veins, which I do see, I don't think this one can survive :-(

Did either of the two other eggs hatch? And how are your ducklings doing?