What do i do with these eggs?

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Okay, recently i found a nest of duck eggs next to a nearby lake and i found the mother nearby with a bb in the chest. I figured some kids were messing around and shot the mother and i brought the 6 eggs home so they wouldn't die. Now im only 16 and i have 6 eggs at home and my parents dont know about it. I hide them in an abandoned shed in the woods where no one can find them, but im afraid of my parents finding out, for i know they would make me ditch them in the woods and forget about them. I need to know what to do when they hatch and if they would follow me wherever i go. I think they are going to hatch soon, for i've seen one move the other day and their embryo has grown tremendously. What should i do and what do ducks eat? And what should i feed the ducklings when they hatch? I have so many questions and worries, could u please write me back soon?

-- Alexandra Dickerson (Cutie4202@aol.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

Have you kept them warm?? Would your parents be mad really? Maybe a science teacher you may have had would help you hatch & raise them. Or do you have any neighbors who have a small farm with poultry? If they hatch they need a heat lamp to keep them warm. I'm sure you have someone there you can tell who would help you.

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), April 28, 2002.

P.S. Stan, Shame on you!!!

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), April 28, 2002.

Besides, Stan, wouldn't your omlette be a little chunky? LOL!!

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

Alexandra,

As a mom I would say talk to your parents. I bet you will be pleasantly suprised by your parents. If you are open and honest with them they will respect you more than if you hide thigs. I know if my kids found some eggs I would be proud of them for doing the right thing. Let me know what they say.

-- Pat (hiddentreasuresfarm@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.


I agree with Pat. I can't imagine anyone getting upset over some eggs. Talk to your folks. It is likely that if you haven't kept them warm they are not viable eggs by now. How have you seen the embryo?

-- Bukbuk (hmmm@chicken.com), April 28, 2002.


Alexandra, Can you be more specific about what you are doing now to care for the eggs and how many days you've had them? What do you mean when you say they've grown tremendously - how are you determining that? Also - are you sure the egg moved, or was it moved by something else? If you are leaving them unguarded in the woods (even in a shed) chances are something like a raccoon, opposum or even a snake could have moved them (although, if they did find them, I doubt they would have left without eating them). And, what part of the country are you in? How warm are the days and nights right now?

I hate to tell you this, because I know you were doing what you thought was right, but the eggs are probably already dead if they haven't been kept warm. If you can correct that problem, AND if it hasn't been too long since you found them, they could possibly still hatch, but try not to get your hopes up too much.

As for what to do with the ducklings when and if they hatch - if you could talk to a neighbor who has ducks or other poultry, or a teacher as Suzanne suggested, that would be best. If not, try making a trip to your local library or do a search on the internet (try "raising ducks" or something similar). However, I'm concerned that if your parents truly would not let you keep the eggs, what will they do if you come home with 6 ducklings? You might want to address that question now too and re-think speaking to them about it. One thing is sure - if they do hatch, they will need a lot of attention, and they can't get that locked up in a shed in the woods.

This is a complex problem and difficult to resolve through this forum. My husband and I are ex-zookeepers, so if you want to, you are welcome to contact me at my email address and I will try to help if I can.

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.


Meant to also say......Stan that is GAGGY! You are funny, but certainly have a gross sense of humor!

-- Bukbuk (Hmmm@chicken.com), April 28, 2002.

Dig a hole and place the eggs in and bury. A year later carefully dig up the eggs and sell them to the Japanese. They pay top dollar for rotten duck eggs. It is considered a delicacy. Don't know how they can stand to eat this stuff but I seen this on t.v.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 28, 2002.

Heat lamp when they are born, I Am 19 and i seriosuly wish i had some duck eggs, to look after i like animals but coming from the twon theres rarely ducks visit nevermind lay eggs.

Just ignore the other comments about omelettes and the likes. But take the other peoples advice about telling ur folks. by the way one major question, is what after they hatch? what u going to do with them when they start getting big? If you tell your folks, They will understand.

But i also want to say that being 16 and doing what you have done has shown alot more maturity than i had at that ages. So dont worry be proud and good luck! If you want any help, Email me, and ill get back to you ASAP, and do my best to help you.

Craig

-- Craig (ruskie@absolutevodka.fsnet.co.uk), April 29, 2002.


Alexandra, you're showing more maturity and compassion than some of the juveniles posting here: Good for you!

If there were 12 eggs, chances are, the mother duck had started sitting on them already, which means they had started incubating, which means that chances are, they have gotten chilled since, and will not continue to develop. If she was just collecting a clutch of them (she lays one a day or so) to sit on and hadn't started sitting on them, they are then possibly still viable. You should go to the library and get a book on raising ducks so you know what's involved.

As for your parents telling you to ditch them, you know your parents and we don't, so go with your instincts. Parents usually don't have time for half-baked schemes or brainless plans, but they do like to see their kids come up with a well-thought-out plan of action. My stepson would come up with these plans which would be financed by him winning the lottery! ha! But whenever he had researched something well and could answer our questions and had obviously thought about possible contingencies and eventualities, we were supportive. (And amazed!)

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), April 29, 2002.



Alexandra, Please write back and tell us what's going on. Are they still alive? Did you talk to your folks? Update please - some of us actually care.

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), May 02, 2002.

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