Eggs

20 years ago

My duck Topaz laid 19 eggs. Well, something got 3 of them so there were only 16 left. Today I went to town and when I got back I went to check on Topaz. She is inside a kid size dollhouse so nothing can get to her. (like the boy ducks can't get to her)

Well, when I opened the door a dead baby duck was lying there. It was solid black, just like the daddy :(

Ants were all over the poor little baby. So...any day now it is time for them to hatch. It's been over 32 days so anytime, anyday they should hatch. Do you think it hatched and ants found it and killed it? I read on the comp. before that ants will kill newborn baby ducks... Could that have been what happened or do you think it was born dead? The thing I don't understand is: it was near the door to the dollhouse. It wasn't up under her or anything, so you reckon' it crawled that far away from her???

I don't think any animals (opossum, raccoon, ) or anything like that got inside and tried getting it, because they would have taken the baby, right? Oh, and the shell was gone! I couldn't find it anywhere...

Well, I brought Topaz inside the house until her babies do hatch. That way nothing else will get them :)

Hey, one more question,.... one of the eggs smelled so terrible, it's rotten, right? There's no baby in that one?? Thanks!!!

Genny

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Comments (9)

marquisella
20 years ago
Candle the eggs that don't hatch tonight. If they are clear they are no good. If they are solild, keep trying.

If you shake the egg gently and it sounds like liquid inside, get rid of it, its rotten.

M
ruthieg__tx
20 years ago
Actually at this stage of the game...you should be able to put the egg to your ear and hear a chick if it is live and piping...
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brendan_of_bonsai
20 years ago
Just FYI a dead duckling will not hatch, and the mother certainly won't break the egg for it.
GennyM
Original Author
20 years ago
Hey, thanks all for the replies!

Well, I tried putting Topaz in the house w/ her eggs. I left her alone in the bathroom w/ them and I fell asleep on the couch. Well, I woke up 2 hrs. later and Topaz was off of the eggs not sitting on them! So, I took her back to her nest outside in the dollhouse and she climbed right on the eggs and sat down! She didn't want to be inside....

My question...I know if a duck gets off her eggs that the baby ducks in the eggs will die.
So, do u think that her being off of the eggs for that 2 hours could have hurt them? thanks
Genny
snycal
20 years ago
If they are in the late stage they should be fine... what happened, give update. For the future, adams flee and tick spray can be sprayed on the duck, in and around the nest and all insects will stay away. The ducks and chickens don't seem to mind the smell so don't be worried (like I was). Lisa
GennyM
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi Lisa! Great news--all 12 babies hatched!! Three of them were rotten...But, the other 12 hatched and are doing great!!!! There is a little difference in eahc one of them! I named them. It is kind of hard to tell them apart at times...but, I can usually tell who-is-who if I pick up several at a time and look at their differences LOL talk to you later...I'll send some pics later, too when i get some~
snycal
20 years ago
Wow thats great! You have your hands full now, yes, we all want to see pictures :) Lisa
egardn_comcast_net
20 years ago
Our eggs keep hatching & dying 1/2 way out of their shell, & they all have a large round lump hanging from their bottoms. Any one know why? Thanks so much, Elsa
GennyM
Original Author
20 years ago
Elsa,
The 'large round lump' you are talking about was on some of mine. As they dried off it wasn't visible anymore.