Pirate ducklings with chicken mama!

[Kiki]

So how long can an egg be kicked out of the nest and still be ok? I cane home and it is clear that now that the broody is in this nest box it is the new favorite nest box. I found 2 new eggs under her and two on the floor of the coop (one of which is new and one of which is fertile and marked).

I would guess a few long hours won't hurt.

 

[PirateGirl]

Day 3 Update:

Yesterday I tried to trick the other girls to lay in a different nest box by putting some rocks in there. I didn’t want to make it too appealing because I don’t want my broody to switch boxes. One girl laid in that box, one girl added an egg to the broody nest, no eggs got kicked out in the process, the broody is still on the correct nest, so better than the day before.

Today I am battling the weather. It snowed again last night. Now that the sun is up it’s freezing rain and a layer of ice is forming on everything. It’s a mess. I’ve been shoveling and chipping away at ice and frozen mud before it gets worse. Yay for spring in the Rockies!

 

[PirateGirl]

I added a poll! When should I check on the eggs to see if they are developing?

 

[Kiki]

I say day 3.

 

[PirateGirl]

I say day 3.

So I should have already done this??? Multiple times a day right??? Until I first see a vein and I get flogged by the broody?

 

[Kiki]

So I should have already done this??? Multiple times a day right??? Until I first see a vein and I get flogged by the broody?

What day is today?

 

[PirateGirl]

Today is day 4 already! That's why that was my first choice on the poll.

Edit: Today I guess is really day 3 since Monday was the day I set them and would be day 0.

 

[PirateGirl]

Wait... I want to be sure I'm counting my days right... is the day I set them day 1 or is that day zero because they haven't been incubating for 24 hours yet? I put them in the nest Monday.

 

[casportpony]

The day you set = day zero.

 

[PirateGirl]

The day you set = day zero.

Perfect. Thank you!