*pics Help-pekin eggs in the nest are all different colors. Does that mean some won't hatch

chicks & ducks

Chirping
14 Years
Mar 30, 2010
47
3
92
Hi all, it's been a while since I posted here but it's good to be back! :D I've been spending my time over at backyardherds.

Anyway! We have a mama duck who, I'm sure, has been sitting on her nest for what feels like 8 months now! (slight exaggeration , but I'm impatient!) About two weeks ago there were 18-20 eggs in the nest(hard to count all at once without upsetting mama) now there are about 15 in the nest.
Once in a while I can get a peek at the eggs. For a few days now some have looked significantly different from others. They are a dark speckled grey(transparent looking) but others are still VERY white and solid looking. Just wondering if this means the white ones won't hatch or if they're just a little behind the others? If they were duds I thought she would have gotten rid of them when she did the other 5 or so.

Any thoughts?
I'll go see if I can get a photo in case that helps! :D




Edited to add pics.
 
Last edited:
Hi all, it's been a while since I posted here but it's good to be back! :D I've been spending my time over at backyardherds.

Anyway! We have a mama duck who, I'm sure, has been sitting on her nest for what feels like 8 months now! (slight exaggeration , but I'm impatient!) About two weeks ago there were 18-20 eggs in the nest(hard to count all at once without upsetting mama) now there are about 15 in the nest.
Once in a while I can get a peek at the eggs. For a few days now some have looked significantly different from others. They are a dark speckled grey(transparent looking) but others are still VERY white and solid looking. Just wondering if this means the white ones won't hatch or if they're just a little behind the others? If they were duds I thought she would have gotten rid of them when she did the other 5 or so.

Any thoughts?
I'll go see if I can get a photo in case that helps! :D




Edited to add pics.
The one I can see real good doesn't look good, I'd take it out and candle, you should be able to see duckling moving around. you don't want an egg explosion in her nest.
 
OOOHHH man you were right! I went and grabbed 3 dark ones and one very white one to check. Set them safely on the kitchen counter by the flashlight but then the flashlight quit working, set THAT down to get new batteries and it rolled.... BAD NEWS! 2 VERY unhealthy eggs cracked onto my kitchen floor. :( Checked a couple more dark ones and they showed no sign of life either. A couple DID have little babies inside so obviously put them back. This means out of 18 eggs only 5 or 6 have a chance of actually becoming chicks now. :( We've already lost 4 adult ducks this year to the eagles, was hoping this batch would restore our numbers :(
 
OOOHHH man you were right! I went and grabbed 3 dark ones and one very white one to check. Set them safely on the kitchen counter by the flashlight but then the flashlight quit working, set THAT down to get new batteries and it rolled.... BAD NEWS! 2 VERY unhealthy eggs cracked onto my kitchen floor. :( Checked a couple more dark ones and they showed no sign of life either. A couple DID have little babies inside so obviously put them back. This means out of 18 eggs only 5 or 6 have a chance of actually becoming chicks now. :( We've already lost 4 adult ducks this year to the eagles, was hoping this batch would restore our numbers :(
the season is still young don't give up hope. glad you found out sorry it had to be in your kitchen lol
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom