When feeding ducks at a lake, we discovered a nest of 5 duck eggs. They were not the correct temperatur and there were ants around the eggs. We believed them to be dead but still wanted to give it a go and researched home made incubators. We have a styrofoam cooler and a heating pad, moist towels for humidity and a thermometer. QUESTION: How long must we wait before we can candle them to see if there is growth? I really want these to hatch but think they are dead and need to know how long to wait before there will be growth in how many days (already have been incubating for 1 day) and what to look for! Thanx
2007-03-16 03:33:36 · 6 answers · asked by dragonfire5022 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Already cracked one open and it had no odor and it looked fresh! Does this add to the percent of survival?
2007-03-16 03:43:38 · update #1
I guess it would, but keep them in the incubator and candle them when they're about 3 to 5 days old. If the inside is clear, it's not fertile. Although if it is fertile the inside will be a bit darker and red veins running in it. There wil also be a dark spot(embryo) possibly in the middle. If you look long enough at 5 days it might move!
Aso here's a site that may be able to help you:
http://www.backyardchickens.com
Hope this helps!
I hope all goes well for you!
If ya can, please post your results before this question closes.
2007-03-16 04:10:29 · answer #1 · answered by Checkers- the -Wolf 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about duck eggs specifically, but according to the book I have about chickens, you can candle them within a day or two as the embryo grows pretty fast. My book also says that the eggs have to be turned every day in the incubator. My chickens lay eggs and walk away from them; it's only when they're "broody" that they'll sit on the eggs in order to hatch them. If ducks are anything like chickens, it doesn't matter that the mother duck walked away. How long she was away does matter. My book says the eggs can wait a few days, unrefrigerated, to go into the incubator but not much longer than that.
2007-03-16 08:22:03 · answer #2 · answered by Lili 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that they won't hatch at all. Usually ducks and other fowl abandon their eggs after they become overdue for hatching. I have several geese, which have done the same thing. Best way to check is to break an egg and smell the contents. You will know immediately if the egg won't hatch judging by the pong. It is best to perform this task far away from your house!
2007-03-16 03:41:40 · answer #3 · answered by Tsotsi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you cracked it open did you see an embryo? I'm pretty sure you can candle em any time, but if there was no embryo there is no point in candling.
2007-03-16 03:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by marina 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should wait five weeks and if they don't hatch their probaly dead.
2007-03-16 03:52:47 · answer #5 · answered by Snowangel31 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JUST KEEP THEM UNTIL THEY HATCH AND THEN JUST YOU KNOW RELEASE THEM RIGHT AWAY
2007-03-16 03:37:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋