Hatching some abandoned Mallard eggs.

[unclefish]

My neighbor found 2 mallard hens that built nests in his shrubs. One in the front yard....one in the back yard. We live on a lake and have mallards that live here year round.

The nest in the front had 12 eggs in it. The back one had 8.



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[KIETHSTONE]

Wow mama duck is well camouflaged. They are quick to leave once hatched


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[unclefish]

This morning before dawn something attacked and killed the hen in her nest. They destroy 4 eggs with 8 remaining. All the neighbors were upset that something killed her. We live in neighborhood subdivision and felt sure that hen built a nest in a great spot and would hatch those ducklings.

Probably a cat, coon, or possum did her in.

I have an incubator and grabbed the eggs and put them in. We had raised a pet mallard from an abandoned egg several years ago....so I had to refresh my memory on proper temp and get it humid in the chamber.

We don't know exactly how long the eggs had been in the nest but when I picked them up today you could hear them peeping. So they are getting close....likely 3-5 days away by my best guestimate. It takes ~28 days to hatch them.

Got the eggs marked for turning. Gonna raise them until they are fledged and fly away.



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[Fajkus7]

This is cool. In to see the progress

[DUKFVR]

Great of you to do that Steve. Dang predators.

[Walker]

If they are peeping stop turning them hatch is emminent

[unclefish]

Need to work on a solid duck pen....I have a golden retriever....

We are working to put a cage around the other nest at night so this doesn't happen to her too. Then take it off during the day so she can leave to eat/water. Hoping I don't have try and hatch 16 eggs!

Will post updates as they happen.

[unclefish]

If they are peeping stop turning them hatch is emminent

Yeah only turned them once today and after hearing the peeps have "locked them down". Supposed to turn temp down a little and really put the humidity to them until they hatch.

[Walker]

Humidity should be 50-60%. Any more and the hatchling will be sticky.

[Muskles]

If they are peeping stop turning them hatch is emminent

I was going to chime in, but this sums it up. I usually ran my humidity higher to soften the shells, but I didn't have great success.

[hog_down]

Good on ya for saving the eggs!

[Lostacresranch]

3 days before hatch date, or if they are peeping, turn the humidity to 65-75%. It makes it easier for the shells to break open.

[unclefish]

All 8 have started pipping (cracking the external shell)! Hopefully tomorrow we will have some ducklings.

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[duke-86]

All 8 have started pipping (cracking the external shell)! Hopefully tomorrow we will have some ducklings.

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In for the fun, hope you keep this updated seems like a very cool project!!

[DBLHKUP]

Good work right here! Two thumbs up!