Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[Miss Lydia]

I wonder what I will find when I get home today.....

 

[Snownoir]

I wonder what I will find when I get home today.....

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

My findings....

The dogs.....laying and listening outside of the brooder......intently. They are on the yard side of the coop....what do they hear??

A broken egg shell....stinky!! They've thrown out the rotten egg.....Stink I have never smelled in my entire life!

Nothing else. Just broody women still sitting.

I'm floating tonight. I'll keep you posted.

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

Thought I would show you all my girls.

These are the 2, ready to hatch! That's Walter.....in the back....never missing a photo opp! I find it interesting....their nest used to be all built up and you could barely see them....now it appears the wall has been broken down and the nest is more flat. Full of eggs under them...





And here is Miss Daisy...she went broody on 17 last week. I will candle her tonight. All of the things I have learned from the first 2 I will put to use right away with this one!!

 

[Amiga]

DaytonDuckMom,

Sweet photo's! Lovely animals!

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

Thank you!! They are the loves of my life!

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

I am not cut out for this. All I can do is cry.

I think, well I know....I have some dead eggs. I floated one.....nothing.

Floated another that clearly has a full grown baby inside, and there was some movement in the water however the air sac looked compromised. Perhaps it's me and I don't realize that once they have punctured the sac then next the pipping begins! And I would think that the water would have rippled....the egg just sort of went side to side very gently....

I'm a disaster. I think they must have some viable in there. Not all of them are dark black....some you can see the air sac still in tact, slanted as it should be. What do I do?

I want to pull the dead ones but which ones are they???? I will not be able to breathe if I pull one I think may be dead only to find that it wasnt!!

Uuugghh!! What do I do??? There are so many. Over 20. I've decided I will wait until tomorrow..and then pull more and candle them for movement. Both of the girls are so overprotective you would think because they are protecting live ones. Between the 2 of them.....I think I will just wait.

Dying.

 

[keirys]

I am not cut out for this.  All I can do is cry.

I think, well I know....I have some dead eggs.  I floated one.....nothing.

Floated another that clearly has a full grown baby inside, and there was some movement in the water however the air sac looked compromised.  Perhaps it's me and I don't realize that once they have punctured the sac then next the pipping begins!  And I would think that the water would have rippled....the egg just sort of went side to side very gently....

I'm a disaster.  I think they must have some viable in there.  Not all of them are dark black....some you can see the air sac still in tact, slanted as it should be.  What do I do?

I want to pull the dead ones but which ones are they????  I will not be able to breathe if I pull one I think may be dead only to find that it wasnt!! 

Uuugghh!!  What do I do???  There are so many.  Over 20.  I've decided I will wait until tomorrow..and then pull more and candle them for movement.  Both of the girls are so overprotective you would think because they are protecting live ones.  Between the 2 of them.....I think I will just wait.

Dying. 

I just wait I dont even touch the eggs at all I let nature take its course. But I have been itching to take a peek

 

[EdenCamp]

I just wait I dont even touch the eggs at all I let nature take its course. But I have been itching to take a peek

I agree. If incubating, you are the mama and need to do the fussing, turning, culling, adjusting temp and humidity ...and kicking out the duds. As a rule, a broody and nature is going to do this so much better than we can. Nature isn't always perfect - and it's hard to be hands off - but the less you mess....... usually the less harm we do. Outcome isn't always what we want, but ma nature has been getting the job done a loooooooong time without us just fine.

 

[EdenCamp]

I just wait I dont even touch the eggs at all I let nature take its course. But I have been itching to take a peek

I agree. If incubating, you are the mama and need to do the fussing, turning, culling, adjusting temp and humidity ...and kicking out the duds. As a rule, a broody and nature is going to do this so much better than we can. Nature isn't always perfect - and it's hard to be hands off - but the less you mess....... usually the less harm we do. Outcome isn't always what we want, but ma nature has been getting the job done a loooooooong time without us just fine.