Can a whole clutch of eggs die before hatching?

[chris330r]

One of the wild Muscovy ducks out back laid about 12 eggs in a big planter at the end of June/beginning of July. I'm not sure the exact date, but I know they were all there over the 4th of July holiday. She's been sitting on them all this time and nothing is hatching and it's beginning to smell and tons of flies were all over the eggs when she went for a dip in the pond this morning.

I went over to look and the smell was nasty and so many flies...I figure they all died inside the egg probably because of the incredible heat we've been having this past month with 100 degree temps. Some of her eggs were laying on the ground beside the planter and so many flies! So before she came back I threw them all into the lake and hope I did the right thing.

After over a month, those eggs would've hatched by now right? The Mama went back into the planter and was searching for her eggs, but hopefully she gets over the loss quickly. I hated to do it, but that smell was getting awful.

 

[nchls school]

You did the right thing. Muscovy eggs should hatch in 35 days.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

One of the wild Muscovy ducks out back laid about 12 eggs in a big planter at the end of June/beginning of July. I'm not sure the exact date, but I know they were all there over the 4th of July holiday. She's been sitting on them all this time and nothing is hatching and it's beginning to smell and tons of flies were all over the eggs when she went for a dip in the pond this morning.

I went over to look and the smell was nasty and so many flies...I figure they all died inside the egg probably because of the incredible heat we've been having this past month with 100 degree temps. Some of her eggs were laying on the ground beside the planter and so many flies! So before she came back I threw them all into the lake and hope I did the right thing.

After over a month, those eggs would've hatched by now right? The Mama went back into the planter and was searching for her eggs, but hopefully she gets over the loss quickly. I hated to do it, but that smell was getting awful.

She probably left them too often.

 

[chris330r]

Thanks for the reassurance. I hated doing it because I was looking forward to them hatching. The mama has already left the planter and has gone on her way so I think she probably knew they were bad and is hopefully relieved to finally be rid of them.

She's been on them constantly whenever I looked out my window, so I don't think she was leaving them too much. I think it was the heat that did it. For the last month it's been so hot that I suspect the heat killed them. Some nights the temperature on my weather app would say "heat index 91"....and that was after midnight!

The last clutch that hatched in the planter was in April and had 5 ducks that are all doing great but I wonder if it's best to fill the planter with flowers to discourage any more egg laying in there? The planter is between two screened patios and that smell was getting so bad! I think i'd rather have flowers out there from now on.

 

[Sonya9]

It is too bad you didn't buy her some ducklings to raise. If she sat for 3 weeks (or however long it takes for duck eggs to hatch) she likely would have accepted store bought babies.

 

[chris330r]

I had no idea they sell baby ducklings in stores. Had I known, I would've went out and bought a few for her. I'll remember this if it happens again. Thanks.