Mallards are fantastic animals. And sometimes you may have to help them hatch. It is important not to remove the eggs from the nest without valid reasons; however, if you are satisfied that the mother has been missing for at least 48 hours, you can help the chicks to be born. This article will tell you how to do it.
Steps
Step 1. First of all check the local laws
Under the laws in your country, be aware that disturbing wildlife, including manipulating or touching eggs with the intention of harming or for profit, could be illegal.
Do not try to remove them from their natural environment without first notifying the competent office in your area. Call the local bird agency and ask if you can collect these wild duck eggs and place them in an incubator you bought, then releasing the animals exactly 60-90 days later (the time it takes to learn to fly), by a lake near your city. Tell them that the mother duck has been missing for 48 hours. The competent office will tell you whether or not it is appropriate to incubate the eggs. Write down the name of the person you spoke to and their phone number if you have more questions to ask over the next 90 days
Step 2. Find a shop that can sell an incubator, or order one online
Your local pet supplies store will probably be able to help you, or you can search online for "egg incubator" and purchase it directly on the internet. The price can start from 50-60 euros or more depending on the model, in addition to shipping costs.
Step 3. Order fertile eggs online or get some from a local farmer
The eggs must be collected and stored for no more than 7 days at room temperature, or at 12-13 ° C and 60% humidity for 14 days; the cellar is a perfect place for this. To increase the chances of them hatching completely, the sooner you put them in the incubator, the better. Before placing them in the incubator, however, with a pencil gently write an O on one side and an X on the opposite side (on the sides, not on the top or bottom). This will help you keep track of how to turn the eggs next time.
Step 4. Turn on the incubator several hours before inserting the eggs, to make sure that the temperature stabilizes at 36-37 ° C and the humidity at 30-50%
If you start the tool 24 hours in advance you have a lot of time to make all those small adjustments before putting the eggs in.
Step 5. Place the eggs in the incubator choosing whether to keep the X or the O on the upper side
Step 6. Rotate them at least three times a day, half a turn each time
Always rotate an odd number of times, so that the chick sleeps on a different side every night. If the incubator has an automatic rotator you don't have to worry about it, since she does it for you. Never place the pointed end of the eggs on the rotating tray!
Step 7. You can check the eggs throughout the incubation process by pointing a high-powered flashlight at them in a dark room
Someone recommends removing the eggs if it is clear that they are not fertile. If you see an egg starting to develop brown spots on the outside of the shell, it is not fertile and needs to be removed.
Step 8. On day 25 reduce the temperature to 35-36 ° C and increase the humidity level to 70%
This will aid in the hatching process, as well as prevent egg particles from sticking to the new chicks.
Step 9. Prepare for hatching
The eggs should start hatching on day 28. After hatching, the chicks must dry out for at least 75% inside the incubator, before moving on to the artificial hen. Your thermal hen should be a space large enough to accommodate the ducklings, leaving at least 40 square centimeters for each of them.
Set up the thermal brooder with a specific lamp (which you can also find at local stores) or a heating lamp with a 75-100 watt bulb, dry hay, fresh water in a really shallow container, and a non-medical weaning food for ducks. A long container like those from Rubbermaid® works perfectly. The artificial hen must have areas with different temperatures that vary gradually. If you see the chicks panting and staying away from the bulb, reduce the heat by moving the lamp a little away or lowering its wattage. If, on the other hand, they hug each other under the bulb and cry, increase the temperature by lowering the lamp or increasing the wattage (in any case not more than 100). Give them plenty of space so that if it's too hot they can walk away
Step 10. Care for the ducklings after hatching until it is time to free them
Keep them with plenty of fresh water and feed.
- Do your best to find on reliable sites instructions on how to care for ducks, print the information and keep it in a binder next to the nest.
- Keep the telephone number of a veterinarian and the wildlife officer near the nursery, in case you need to contact them, for example if you have to go on an unexpected trip.
Step 11. Free the ducks in the wild when the time comes
- Be absolutely sure to schedule a day off, about 90 days after taking charge of the eggs, to take the ducks to the lake by car; once you arrive, let them walk or fly around the lake.
- Some female ducks do not tolerate other ducklings in their area. Try to find a place where there are no other mallards.
Advice
If you have never used an incubator before, put it on trial for 30 days to make sure it works and to familiarize yourself with the different keys. Use some stones and write O and X on each side, then check if you can turn them without losing any time
Warnings
- Do not harm the ducklings.
- Do not lift the ducks by grabbing them by their legs or feet.
