Nesting broody duck in EXTREME heat

[jduckymomma]

I have a momma Cayuga who has been sitting her nest for at least 3 weeks, probably a little more. I'm guessing, based on egg candling, that she's within 5 or 6 days of hatching her 8 eggs. My concern is that she is nested in a big dog house in the sun, and it has been an average of 110 degrees (F) here for the past few days. I opened the roof off the top of the house because it has asphalt tiles so it was essentially an oven. I've been making sure she has clean, cool water, I tied a shade sail over her area so she's no longer in direct sunlight, and I go out and mist her with cool water every once in awhile. I'm so worried those eggs are just gonna hard-boil under her! I don't hardly ever see her get off the nest, but her water is dirty and food messed each morning, so i know she is eating and drinking. Are her babies and her going to be OK in this heat? Any advice as to anything I can do to help her get through the heat wave safely?? We're expecting Temps above 100 degrees for the next couple weeks, so there won't be any relief before or after hatching.

 

[sourland]

You might try putting a frozen gallon jug of water in the dog house. Replacing it once it melted.

 

[Isaac 0]

In addition to what sourland suggested, you may put a fan near the the dog pen (not directly on her) to circulate the air.

 

[jduckymomma]

I'll try the frozen jug, that's a great idea, thank you. The eggs won't overheat or anything, will they? I'm surprised she is still sitting all day, as it seems that in 110 degree heat, the eggs are incubated simply by being outside, LOL! This is Emerald's (and our) first hatch (she is just over a year old), so I'm really hopeful that all goes well and finding it hard to just "let nature", especially with such unnatural heat. I'm so anxious to hear little peep peep peeps!

 

[jduckymomma]

I'm happy to report that momma and eggs seem to have made it through the heat ok, and this morning I noticed at least two eggs with external pips! I could hear peep peep peeps inside them when I put them to my ears, so I'm excited! I left the rest of the eggs undisturbed, so I've only confirmed those two pips so far.

Question: Should I just let them all be? If any ducklings have trouble during the hatch, will their momma help them out? It is SO HARD to just sit around and WAIT!!!

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Best to leave them be. They do much better not watched. Normally I'd suggest filling up your social calender for the next 2-3 days (yep, it can take that long) but given the circumstances of the need to social distance, I am going to suggest either pick up a new novel that's going to suck you in to read, or start crocheting/knitting a blanket for the coming winter. And if you don't know how, it's a great time to learn. Best of luck keeping busy, I've picked up many new hobbies waiting for the hatch to be done

 

[nao57]

The momma ducks can do it better than us humans can.

 

[jduckymomma]

Yay! We had 5 healthy, happy little ducklings hatch out yesterday morning (all 5 were fully out by 1pm or so). Last night I candled the last two eggs and they still have movement but no visible pips, internal nor external. One looks pretty normal, but the other has the air cell lengthwise along one entire side and taking up almost half of the entire egg. There is still movement in the lengthwise half that the duckling is in, but will this egg survive? How long is normal for stragglers to wait after the majority of the eggs have hatched? Momma is still sitting on the remaining 2, but seems to be sitting much less "intensely", if that makes sense.

I have her and the little ones contained in the nesting house for now, but I'm not sure how long I should wait for those last two to hatch? Any advice is appreciated, this is our first time breeding our ducks and I am a nervous wreck!

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Congrats on the 5! (We are going to need to see some pics of the cuties when you take some) Is it possible she snuck the 2 late eggs in a few days later? That could be why they haven't pipped yet. This is a common move by cheeky broodys, but it does cause a pickle once the first ones hatch. If it's still quite warm there they may be okay. It's possible for eggs to still hatch with a saddled (lengthwise) aircell.

 

[jduckymomma]

It is possible that they were a little later to be added. It is also possible that they were snuck in by one of our other hens before we moved her nest to the private dwellings (she had originally nested right next to the communal food dish out in the run!). It seems this has certainly occurred, since my only drake is a Pekin, and my Cayuga momma appears to have hatched 4 black babies and one Blue Swedish! ;-) I will candle the eggs again tonight to ensure they are still alive and make sure she is still sitting on them. If she gives up sitting on them, is there anything I can do to help them hatch? I don't own an incubator, and probably can't get one soon enough, but can I makeshift something with a small space heater (the dish kind, not air-blowing) and a box maybe?