my duck is sitting on nest help

I'm pretty sure that the eggs should have hatched by now. What do I do and will she be ok? she's done really good only gets off about twice a day. But it's been way to long

lovemy mallards said:

I'm pretty sure that the eggs should have hatched by now. What do I do and will she be ok?she's done really good only gets off about twice a day. But it's been way to long

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Incubation is 28 days. Since it really is hard to know when she began sitting tight, they may hatch yet. Do you know when she seemed to start brooding? It seems when I am waiting for a hatch, it takes forever. Yet, when not waiting, the eggs hatch in a matter of days (not really, it just seems that way).

If she is tame you could candle the eggs. If she isn't tame give her some more time.

nchls school said:

Incubation is 28 days. Since it really is hard to know when she began sitting tight, they may hatch yet.  Do you know when she seemed to start brooding? It seems when I am waiting for a hatch, it takes forever. Yet, when not waiting, the eggs hatch in a matter of days (not really, it just seems that way).

If she is tame you could candle the eggs. If she isn't tame give her some more time.

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she's pretty tame I will try tonight thank you

This is the thing when I had started counting her days she layed several more eggs. So I'm really unsure. I check every day. I just started to worry. What happens if the eggs don't hatch. Will she keep sitting?

lovemy mallards said:

This is the thing when I had started counting her days she layed several more eggs. So I'm really unsure. I check every day. I just started to worry. What happens if the eggs don't hatch. Will she keep sitting?

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At some pint she will give up. If you candle and find the eggs gone bad, consider getting rid of them so the hen stops brooding.

lovemy mallards said:

This is the thing when I had started counting her days she layed several more eggs. So I'm really unsure. I check every day. I just started to worry. What happens if the eggs don't hatch. Will she keep sitting?

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Ducks stop laying when they are broody. There is a hormonal change that elevates their body temperature and that is when incubation starts. Sometimes when people think the eggs are past due it is because they started countdown when they noticed the hen acting broody but your hen was not actually officially broody until she stopped laying and started incubating the eggs.

Sometimes a hen will pick up late starts because another duck layed in her nest so it is a good idea to candle eggs to see where they are. We always check nests for left over eggs when she gets off with ducklings because sometimes a few eggs will still hatch if we move them to the incubator.

Duck Drover said:

Ducks stop laying when they are broody. There is a hormonal change that elevates their body temperature and that is when incubation starts. Sometimes when people think the eggs are past due it is because they started countdown when they noticed the hen acting broody but your hen was not actually officially broody until she stopped laying and started incubating the eggs.

Sometimes a hen will pick up late starts because another duck layed in her nest so it is a good idea to candle eggs to see where they are. We always check nests for left over eggs when she gets off with ducklings because sometimes a few eggs will still hatch if we move them to the incubator.

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X2.

nchls school said:

At some pint she will give up. If you candle and find the eggs gone bad, consider getting rid of them so the hen stops brooding.

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Duck Drover said:

Ducks stop laying when they are broody. There is a hormonal change that elevates their body temperature and that is when incubation starts. Sometimes when people think the eggs are past due it is because they started countdown when they noticed the hen acting broody but your hen was not actually officially broody until she stopped laying and started incubating the eggs.

Sometimes a hen will pick up late starts because another duck layed in her nest so it is a good idea to candle eggs to see where they are. We always check nests for left over eggs when she gets off with ducklings because sometimes a few eggs will still hatch if we move them to the incubator.

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just wanted to post a update today started out awful found that my drake had drowned 3 babies got two out of the nest as soon as they hatched. I thought he might be ok with them. But was I wrong. Got him separate from mom and babies. And thankfully we have 4 cute babies...this is cheep cheep found him laying out of the nest on the ground. He's back with mom now.

So did the ducklings follow him to the water and then drown instead of staying under the hen? I have never had drakes harm ducklings but perhaps it is a hatchery hybrid? We have problems with crows killing ducklings and even a rat one time but not with the drakes.

Duck Drover said:

So did the ducklings follow him to the water and then drown instead of staying under the hen? I have never had drakes harm ducklings but perhaps it is a hatchery hybrid? We have problems with crows killing ducklings and even a rat one time but not with the drakes.

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I don't know the eggs were all the way over by the pool.a half egg was in pool 1 baby was laying at least 3 foot from nest. The 3 that drown I don't know there was no way they got in the water by themselves they were to little. The 2 we found laying out of the nest couldn't even move they were still wet. As soon as we separated him it stopped she's been sitting on the 4 even sence.. I just don't know really. He's been so great watching over her since she's been sitting. I thought he would be good to them..