ducklings dead under mother

[duckhead18]

i went check on my mother hen today and i noticed she was off the nest. in the nest there were 8 ducklings 1 unhatched and the rest where dead 2 of whick were norman and the rest were smashed and ants got into the nest. 2 days prior she was on the nest any idea of what could have happened besides her smashing them ?

 

[fourkidsandduck]

I'm not sure if she "smashed" them. I'd be willing to bet they have been dead for a while and are beginning to "deflate" which is part of the decomposing process. The ants may have been the first "scavengers" to find the remains this also indicating they have been there for a little while.

 

[duckhead18]

alright thanks for the info