A couple of questions about broody Rouen Ducks

[thechickenwife]

So Daisy our Rouen duck lost her mate about 2 weeks ago to a fox. Well today we found her sitting on about 8 eggs. Some are definately from before he got killed and some are recent (maybe 3 or 4) She lays 6 eggs a week when she is in the chicken coop. The only time they were left out is when they would both wander off in the middle of the day and not come back until the middle of the night. She has spent the last week and a half sneaking off to her eggs which thank goodness we finally found because we had no idea where she had been going.

So my questions are:

How long to hatch?

Does she know if they are fertile?

If they are not what will she do?

Should we go out and candle them after dark some time just to see what is going on?

and finally

Should we move her nest into the chicken coop or just leave it behind the house?

Her mate was killed because he walked pretty far into the field behind the house so I'm not worried about her getting eaten by anything where she is at. I am hoping she has at least one baby in there cause she has been quacking up a storm since her man got eaten so I think she needs a buddy.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
I hope she hatches at least two.

Com' on Momma and babies

 

[vickie2133]

Sorry you lost your duck. Glad she is setting. It usually takes 25 days for ducks to hatch on average.

 

[thechickenwife]

I we have 7 good looking ducklings cooking in their shell (by cooking I mean growing) and 3 duds. They were all taking up about 2/3 of the eggs so I wonder how far along that is.

 

[chasing ducks]

I'd guess 3 weeks or so if their taking up 2/3 of the egg, which means you have about a week left. Thats just my guess though, based on what my ducklings looked like in the egg.