Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[DaytonDuckMom]

You need to candle. that way you can look at air sac and see if it's tilted and also check for internal pipping, http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm

Ok. I am so scared to bother them.....i'll kick the girls out and get in there. More questions later I am sure.....

 

[EdenCamp]

Thank you for the advice and warning about the drakes! I already have chicken wire around the bottom of the chain link of the kennel from last year when I first got the drakes. I'll check through it again to make sure there are no "escape routes". Should I move the ducklings into the kennel as soon as they are hatched? I can close them in there but then I don't want the females feeling like they are trapped in there with them. What is the best way to do this?

Mama will want to eat, drink, poo and bathe if she can. Other than that - all she's worried about is the saftey of and babies and keeping them warm. Other than that, trapped means safe for her right now.

 

[Duck Drover]

They imprint on the first thing they see so these ducklings did not imprint on your mama duck, it may not even been her fault. But sorry you lost the one duckling, I'd let her raise these babies then decide what your going to do with them, She deserves a chance to be a mama now since she hatched them. [Hey I should have been a lawyer]

That is my feeling too. If I had eggs hatching in the incubator in time to trade for these other ducklings I would have let her raise all nine of her own but I thought I could fool her into taking them and I assumed the ducklings would snuggle up to her with the others for warmth. I actually thought it had worked the first night until I lost one and I was too aftaid to lose three more last night so I took them inside. It was colder last night than the night before. I am wondering if I can put them out with her again and see if they will stay under her better but it seemed like she might not be letting them because they are different colors and she knew they were not hers. I could not tell if she was trying to get them under her or if she was keeping them out and I prefer to raise them inside than to lose any more.

 

[EdenCamp]

Ok. I am so scared to bother them.....i'll kick the girls out and get in there. More questions later I am sure.....

My scovy broodies get serious about protecting thier nest. No teeth but actually drew some blood chomping down on my hand. Protect the eggs cupped under your had going in and out. Hated to learn that the hard way when she broke the shell on an egg.

 

[EdenCamp]

My Muscovy hatched out an Embden goose with great results, he is now 6 and she is almost 9.

Good to know! I did slip my goose some swapped out duck eggs.

Have had people tell me they have not had good results with scovies hatching chicken eggs.
Figgured a drier hatch which is good. But getting mixed results - trying to figgure out if a bad streak or a losing battle that should not be engaged in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good to know! I did slip my goose some swapped out duck eggs.

Have had people tell me they have not had good results with scovies hatching chicken eggs.
Figgured a drier hatch which is good. But getting mixed results - trying to figgure out if a bad streak or a losing battle that should not be engaged in.

you know that's something I haven't seen much a duck hatching chicks usually the other way around.

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

My scovy broodies get serious about protecting thier nest. No teeth but actually drew some blood chomping down on my hand. Protect the eggs cupped under your had going in and out. Hated to learn that the hard way when she broke the shell on an egg.Oh

Oh yes! Those girls are so protective! One of them snaps at me all the time! LOL......

I'm scared because I don't want to disturb what's going on in there. I pace and pace all night wondering if there is magic happening in those eggs. Do you think she will return or abandon? They are really motherly.....even when there are droplets of water as I fill their nesting water tray. They both get real busy moving straw immediately so as not to get water on the eggs. As if though...they are sitting on the little darlings!

If you haven't noticed...i'm a wreck!

 

[EdenCamp]

LOL! I get it. Really I do. I didn't get real wazed out with letting the birds hatch eggs but boy, here I am trying to incubate for the first time with some eggs that are VERY important to me. What do I do about the temp, dosen't want to go exact temp. What humidity level. Oooops One exploded (pheeeeeeeweees!). Another explodes. Candling - so what am I looking for? No pips. Hatch day comes and goes. Float tests. Are they still alive? When do I give up all hope and pull them? Trying not to drive people crazy with all my questions.

Actually, if you think they are past due you might want to float test and look for movement. A lot easier than candling to get right (i think). Get a container of water almost twice as deep as the egg size. Get the water 100 degrees - candy or meat thermometer work fine. Let the water get still. Gently slip the an egg in and when all is still, look for any movement of the egg. Bobbing, twitching, anything. If you get movement they are alive and moving around developmentally ready to hatch. Now, if no movement....poke a small hole in the egg and sniff. If it's rotten you'll know for sure real quick. Other wise, gently open the egg. You want to do this to check how far along it is. If just a bit too soon - esp if the baby still alive - don't mess with anymore, just wait.

Or, just let mama go to it. Sitting on rotters won't kill her. They know much better than we do what they are doing by instinct. IMO we make things more complicated the more we try to make nature conform to OUR wishes....

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is pretty cool

 

[DuckyGurl]

Just candled all with a duck friend who has hatched before. ALL dead. Looks like they died early on too.