I have a pekin duck that layed her first egg last month. she layed about 14 eggs and sat on them every day apart from at eatting time and a swim. The eggs are due to hatch in about 2-5 days now and she's stopped sitting on them. I'm scared that they will get to cold and die-what do i do? Also just recently i have seen lots of broken eggs around the area and i dont know why. Now there are only 5 eggs left. I tried candeling them but some of them were patchy dark inside. This is her first nest and she hasn't layed anywhere else. Is there any chance for the 5 eggs left? thanks for any help

-- sam (starrylotrnight@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002

Answers

Find a broody hen chicken or an incubator quick! Ask around, somebody may have a broody you can borrow.

-- Laura Rae Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), March 09, 2002.

I don't have any hens or any incubator, can i use a hot water bottle or something like that?

-- sam (starrylotrnight@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002.

i think its gonna be ok now! shes gone back to the nest. i just hope that the eggs are still ok. if it happens again can i use a lamp or something? Im in Australia so it summer here and not very cold. thanks for your help

-- sam (starrylotrnight@hotmail.com), March 09, 2002.

If you are to incubate them,they need to be kept at 100*.There are sites which tell you how to build an incubator out of wood or a styrofoam cooler,very inexpensively.Otherwise,My small incubator (holds about 3 dozen eggs)cost $39.00 at the local feed store.

-- Johna (marcnjohna@aol.com), March 09, 2002.

Sam.. You might want to keep a thread going with people who raise pekins. Head for www.poultryconnection.com, General Waterfowl Forum for lots of help. Be sure your duck has free choice oyster shell a good Breeder ration for feed and lots of greens. Pekins are usually not very good moms. It sounds like yours is doing well. However, why the broken eggs? Is she in a protected place, secure from predators? Good luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 09, 2002.

You are lucky to have had one sit this long. I have had Pekins for 5 years and have not had one even think about setting. When I want to raise some more, plan on having a large chicken hen set them. I have two that is all they want to do in the summer. I was told that after awhile Pekins lose interest in setting or shortly after hatching lose interest, either way you will likely wind up caring for the ducklings. But wish you good luck with them. Would be interested in hearing how you come out with them.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), March 09, 2002.

Don't have the answer as to how to save the eggs as putting them under a broody hen was already mentioned and would save anything that might be good. Little Quaker had the reason for the broken eggs. Predators, more than likely raccoons as a fox would take the duck first. They would have been chasing the duck off the nest at night in order to take a few eggs. More than likely, the remaining eggs also got chilled as your duck was probably frightened away for half the night and didn't go back to setting until daylight. Next time, convince your duck to nest where you can give her protection as night.

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), March 10, 2002.

thanks for all your help. nothings happend yet but i'll keep my fingers crossed. She is still sitting on the eggs but the intervals that she leaves them alone is still a while. Everyone here is puzzled! As for the broken shells its not raccoons because I live in Australia. I have the area fenced off. Last week when i saw the broken egg. It was all still there, the yolk and all. It looked like it had been stomped on. Could it have been the mum? There are still the five eggs there. I'll let you all know what happens, bye

-- sam (starrylotrnight@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.