Author Topic: Duck eggs (Read 3300 times)

sabrina · « **on:** July 31, 2009, 08:42:43 pm »

Well after 15 days of incubation the 12 duck eggs we bought on e-bay we had to get rid of the lot, all bad and I am so dissappointed. That's life I suppose.

jameslindsay · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2009, 09:56:48 pm »

Sabrina, don't let it put you off, you just keep trying. I wish you luck for the future, I have incubated eggs many times and it is such a joy.

doganjo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2009, 10:29:40 pm »

If my duck started sitting on 7th July am I right in thinking it should hatch about Tuesday if it's fertile? Should I see any signs before that or do I just need to be patient? She ahs started being quite vicious with me when I look in the shed to check for hens eggs - pecking my hand and 'growling' at me.

jameslindsay · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2009, 10:35:45 pm »

Annie, I think Tues or Wednesday if it's going to hatch. Good luck, she definately sounds protective enough. I hope you hear patter of tiny feet soon.

doganjo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2009, 10:46:42 pm »

She's actually been sitting about 14 days longer. She was sitting when I went away for the weekend in June, then it got stolen(magpies) so I put another two under her. Then one of those went, so I hope for her sake there is something in this one or she is going to be one very sad duck when I dispose of it.

How long should I leave it after mid week? And can I tell before Tuesday if anything is going to happen without disturbing Jemima.

jameslindsay · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:01:01 pm »

I think it probably best that you just stay completely away. Jemima should know herself if nothing is going to hatch and she would just get up and walk away herself - in my experience anyway. I will keep my finger crossed for you both.

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:05:52 pm »

Annie, does she ever get up to eat or have a swim? If you catch that moment you can quickly and carefully candle the eggs like I described with a maglite torch under the jumper. We sprayed them each day with a tiny water pistol with warm water. I have no idea if they give up by themselves with some sort of inner clock. Ours was sitting on a lot more eggs than Jemima, she gave up after some of them hatched and she had to look after them. Maybe James is right - your shot! Good luck, I do hope it works!

doganjo · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2009, 12:05:02 am »

She is quite fierce - I have a bite mark on my hand from yesterday

She gets off the nest and comes out when she hears me feeding the others, that's when I pick up the hens eggs - but she comes fleeing in quacking like mad and I have to make a hasty exit. I'm not scared of her, just don't want to upset her. I think I'll just leave her till the end of the week - it's not long and she may go off sitting if she realises she's been there for about 6 weeks without anything happening. What I won't/can't do is open the egg to see if anything was growing. I could candle it I suppose. Poor thing, every time she comes out of the shed, Jack tries it on with her and she beetles off swearing at him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder I guess