Hatching Ducklings

[406JLW]

It is difficult to see in these pictures, but I have 2 ducks setting on a whole pile of eggs. They have been setting for about 2 weeks now. You may be able to tell the brown one if all puffed up. She does not care to have me around checking them out. But I am wondering if I should try candling the eggs and getting rid of the ones that don't have ducklings in them. It just seems like a lot of eggs for the two of them to try to keep warm. We're in Montana and had a fairly cold night last night. Hoping none of them got too cold.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! With large nests I usually candle and toss the clears.

 

[ColtHandorf]

It doesn't look like all of them are getting covered in any of the pictures. You might slip out after dark and just talk calmly to them while you candle them and remove any clear ones.

 

[406JLW]

Thank you!

 

[Isaac 0]

Best of luck with your hatch!

 

[406JLW]

A duckling hatched this morning and one of the ducks picked it up and whipped it around. It was then off on its own. So I put it under the other mother. They're both together in a dogloo. They're are both first time mothers. I'm not sure if she was trying to take it away from the other duck or what. But it lived for a few hours after I put it under the other duck and when I just went out it was dead. It had fluff ripped of one cheek and what appears to be a little blood around its mouth. I don't know if they killed. As the other's hatch should I put them in a brooder? I would really prefer the ducks raise them, but we'll be very said if they hatch and then are all killed.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I'd have moved them. How did the hatch turn out?

 

[406JLW]

Thanks for asking! We have 4 little ducklings. Out of 9 eggs. Not sure if we did something wrong or that is just how many didn't hatch. I opened up one after and it hadn't absorbed the yolk.
Thanks again for your help.
Jenny

 

[ColtHandorf]

Good luck with them.