Are my ducks eggs still alive?

[Vivienwindowsinger]

My duck Heather, has been sitting on 12 eggs for 21 days now. However, we had a problem two days ago, where I believe she couldn’t get back to her eggs because her and her other 3 duck friends all escaped the enclosed area in the field and I don’t think Heather could get back in to her nest. She could have been away from the eggs for anything between 2 - 7 hours, because it was 7 hours later I returned and she was at the other side of the fence with her three ducks friends, and all her eggs were unattended. When I felt the eggs on my return to their enclosure, they were cold. Which isn’t a bad thing really.. but what if she’s been away for the whole 7 hours? She wasn’t in a rush to go and sit back on them either! Since then, every time I go to visit the ducks, Heather is off her nest and quacking around. I put my hand on the nest, and the eggs again are cold. I candles a few eggs yesterday in the nest, and did see veins, but no movement. The ducklings inside seem to float about when I slowly turn the eggs. Are they did? Are they all dead, or is there a chance some are still surviving? Has Heather abandoned her eggs during the day and only sitting on them at night? I will attach a photo of one of the eggs I candled today.... please tell me if you think it’s alive or dead....
And what do you think I should do at this stage... leave all the eggs with Heather and just hope that a few hatch... or take half away and put them in my incubator for the remaining time?

Thankyou for your help.

 

[sourland]

Hoping that they are still viable, I would put them in an incubator. Give her a couple of fresh eggs just in case she is still willing to set. If the ducklings hatch, foster them to her and discard the nest eggs. Good luck.

 

[Vivienwindowsinger]

Hoping that they are still viable, I would put them in an incubator. Give her a couple of fresh eggs just in case she is still willing to set. If the ducklings hatch, foster them to her and discard the nest eggs. Good luck.

Thanks. I’ve put some other eggs in her nest for now and have moved 9
Of her eggs in to the incubator. ( I can’t fit any more in). I can’t be certain what day she began sitting on her eggs.... but I think they are due any time from the 30th. So another 8 days.

 

[Vivienwindowsinger]

All 11 eggs

Thanks. I’ve put some other eggs in her nest for now and have moved 9
Of her eggs in to the incubator. ( I can’t fit any more in). I can’t be certain what day she began sitting on her eggs.... but I think they are due any time from the 30th. So another 8 days.

All 11 eggs are all still alive and well. One wasn’t fertile. Hoping she’s back sitting on them again. I can’t commit to incubating them unfortunately. But I’ve a feeling she will prove to be a good mum duck. She obviously just has her own style and gets away with leaving the eggs for long spells