Clutch of eggs different cycles?

[Dfarago]

can a clutch of eggs be in different development stages? I candled my eggs (being incubated by mamma) and they look like they’re in different stages. Some look like they’re closer to 20 days. Whereas some look like they’re close to hatching. You can see movement in the eggs. She is in the same pen as the male (I didn’t want to risk her abandoning the nest) and he is very good at his job. Even though she is sitting on a nest he is still mating with her. Is it possible that some of the eggs are weeks apart in development? And if so is there anything that can be done to ensure a good hatch rate? Also should I be moving my females into their own pen when they start nesting? Besides mating with them the male doesn’t bother the broody moms or the nests.

 

[sourland]

If ducks other than the setting hen have added eggs to the clutch, yes there will be a staggered hatch. The problem with this is that the mother will generally leave the nest with the ducklings within 36 hours of the first hatching. This will leave remaining eggs unincubated. Do you have an incubator ?

 

[Miss Lydia]

You want to have mom and ducklings separated from the drake drakes have been known to kill ducklings. Is he forcing himself on her while she is on the nest? Usually when I have a broody Muscovy the drake and everyone else leaves her alone. Place your broody where she and ducklings will be safe but were all can still see each other.

 

[Dfarago]

I do not have an incubator. Also the drake will leave the broody alone unless she’s out of the nest. Then he might mate with her. The first clutch we had successfully hatch we hijacked the ducklings and brought them into the house. The drake is typically respectful to the broodies when they are sitting. We even had to build a new structure so he had somewhere to sit at night.

 

[chickens really]

Definitely different Hens probably laid in the nest. I'd block it off with feed and water and depending on the temps outside I'd bring them in or set Momma up with a safe warm Brooder area to raise them.