Broody hen waaay past due

[chanceosunshine]

On 4/4, the neighbor texted me to say that our duck was there and had a dozen eggs in a nest. (They’re an elderly couple and they love the ducks. The male and female are actually named after the couple.)
Anyway, the eggs still haven’t hatched. She crosses the road twice daily to take a dip in our pond and I ran over last week and counted…23 eggs.
I found a dead duckling in our yard on Thursday.
She is still sitting on a mound of eggs and pulling debris around her to rebuild the nest. It’s pretty obvious that nothing is going to come of this, right??
She looks awful. What should I do?
To make it worse, her mate and daughter from last year both went missing about a week ago. She’s now alone.
Please give me advice.
(They used to go in at night and then refused and stayed on the pond.)

 

[TesoroSena]

Candle the eggs. If they are dead... either give her chicks or un-broody her.
If they are alive, however, move her into a safe area, a brooder coop, or a cabinet just for her. Give her food and water within reach of the nest.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Thank you!
I wasn’t sure I’d be able to see anything at this late date. I’ll try.

 

[Yardmom]

Ducks are not likely to brood after a move. Sometimes you can put a cage or other protection over the nest. If you don't see life in the eggs most likely all you will need to do to break her is remove the eggs. If there is something to smooth out to make it less nest like do that as well.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd bring her home before she goes missing, never a good idea to let one sit with no protection against predators. def candle the eggs
Looks like one hatched too bad it didn't make it.

Do you know about how long she has been sitting? don't you worry about her getting run over crossing the road daily?

I just looked back if she has been on the nest since 4/4 those eggs aren't going to hatch. But they may start exploding.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Yes, on 4/4 she had a dozen eggs, but I don't when she seriously started sitting.

The neighbors love the chickens and ducks and come and spoil them all with sunflower seeds and such. Being that they feed the birds at their house, the ducks started to visit the feeders. I suppose that's why she decided to lay there.

In all honesty, I just don't know enough about raising ducks and because they are 100% free range, they were just as "safe" there as anywhere. They decided months ago to not come back to the coop at night and I can't get them off the pond.

I do worry about the road, but it's a country road and we did put up a duck crossing sign...for that's worth.

I went to candle the eggs and here's what I found.

Obviously, they can't all be viable. I'm going to give here until tomorrow to see what hatches and then we will move them somewhere safe.

Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have a duckling?
Candle all eggs and put her and what is viable along with this little one in the coop with food and water. Make sure what you use for water a duckling can't climb into and drown. Get starter for mom and ducklings. Top pic for mom and bottom for ducklings.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Oh wow. Thank you! I didn’t realize the water dish could be a problem.

There is currently on duckling hatched but still lying attached to the shell and one duckling with a quarter sized hole in the shell. There may be another egg pipped as well.

 

[chanceosunshine]

Oh…I actually have a duck waterer in my shed. Would that be ok for the babies as well?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Depends on what it looks like can you post a picture? the main thing is you want them to be able to dunk their heads but not climb in and get wet chill or drown.

Hopefully the ducklings will continue to hatch and you can get them to safety, one big problem with them being out and not protected is peeping is going to alert predators to where they are.