So I'm on my third hatch under a broodys.
My first experience was duck eggs under a buff orpington hen. Ultimately one duckling survived and hatched on its own. Three got to the pipping point but never made it out (I tried to help one out, and I'm afraid that attempt resulted in disaster).
In my second experience last spring I had two broody ducks, a few days apart, and both hatched seven ducklings a piece with essentially no drama. They both lost two or three eggs along the way, but within a few days of the first pips and peeps I had 14 adorable ducklings.
This time I started with 16 eggs in one nest with two broody ducks both trying to sit on them so I split the eggs between the two in adjoining nests and everyone seemed happy. I candled at days 14 and 21. Two eggs were bad at day 14 and there were six bad ones on day 21. But all the others were looking pretty good. As we approached day 28 a REALLY bad smell started coming from under one of the ducks so I checked the first nest and I'm pretty sure one of the eggs exploded. The nest was gooey and smelly so I changed the straw as quickly as possible and replaced the three remaining eggs. Needless to say, none of those remaining eggs made it. Momma duck gave up on the nest, one egg looked like it could still be good so I put it in an incubator, but I'm thinking nothing is gonna happen with it.
The remaining duck is sitting on four eggs (and by my count we're a few days beyond day 28). Late yesterday afternoon I could hear scratching and pipping coming from underneath her like crazy so I really expected there might be a duckling or two this morning. I didn't bother her to look at the eggs last night, but by late this afternoon things were sounding way too quiet, so ... I lifted her for a quick peak. Without bothering things much, it appeared two of the eggs are barely pipped, no zips (and no peeps). I know I have to give this thing until tomorrow, but at what time, if any do I take another look and try to decide if she and/or ducklings need some help. Things went soooo well last Spring I had high hopes for this batch too.
I'm really a bit depressed, but it sounds like I'm not alone with a bad hatch.
My first experience was duck eggs under a buff orpington hen. Ultimately one duckling survived and hatched on its own. Three got to the pipping point but never made it out (I tried to help one out, and I'm afraid that attempt resulted in disaster).
In my second experience last spring I had two broody ducks, a few days apart, and both hatched seven ducklings a piece with essentially no drama. They both lost two or three eggs along the way, but within a few days of the first pips and peeps I had 14 adorable ducklings.
This time I started with 16 eggs in one nest with two broody ducks both trying to sit on them so I split the eggs between the two in adjoining nests and everyone seemed happy. I candled at days 14 and 21. Two eggs were bad at day 14 and there were six bad ones on day 21. But all the others were looking pretty good. As we approached day 28 a REALLY bad smell started coming from under one of the ducks so I checked the first nest and I'm pretty sure one of the eggs exploded. The nest was gooey and smelly so I changed the straw as quickly as possible and replaced the three remaining eggs. Needless to say, none of those remaining eggs made it. Momma duck gave up on the nest, one egg looked like it could still be good so I put it in an incubator, but I'm thinking nothing is gonna happen with it.
The remaining duck is sitting on four eggs (and by my count we're a few days beyond day 28). Late yesterday afternoon I could hear scratching and pipping coming from underneath her like crazy so I really expected there might be a duckling or two this morning. I didn't bother her to look at the eggs last night, but by late this afternoon things were sounding way too quiet, so ... I lifted her for a quick peak. Without bothering things much, it appeared two of the eggs are barely pipped, no zips (and no peeps). I know I have to give this thing until tomorrow, but at what time, if any do I take another look and try to decide if she and/or ducklings need some help. Things went soooo well last Spring I had high hopes for this batch too.
I'm really a bit depressed, but it sounds like I'm not alone with a bad hatch.
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