Did her babies hatch?

[QuacksALot]

We’ve had a wild muscovy come live with us for the last 4 months, she mated with our drake and has since laid a nest! Me and my family are totally ok with this, so we’ve let her do her thing for now 36 days.
I read that it takes 35 days to hatch them, so I figured this morning she would be leading her babies to water etc this morning (i’ve gotten VERY attached to this whole process) but instead she was sitting on the ground. so i figured, okay, she’s sitting on her babies on the ground instead of the nest now, but as i was watching her from a decent distance, she stood up and no babies were there. Her nest is right on our patio, in a plant pot that’s off the ground (like 6 inches), so whenever she’s taking a break at the pond, i always look closer at the nest and see the eggs covered by fluff.
Anyways.. there’s no babies and i haven’t gotten a chance to see if the eggs are still in the nest.
is it normal behavior for a duck to sit outside of her nest after they’ve hatched? i’m pretty sure i heard them cheeping about two days ago.
i don’t wanna blow things out of proportion and start crying because the momma lost her babies.. but im just curious.
sorry for the long post. lol

in the photo, the pot that’s tilted is her nest. she’s been staying super close to the nest today.
temperature outside is 87F.
thank you

 

[RossAcres]

Depending on how many hatched and how many are still hatching, they will stay in there for a little while. When you have a moment, just take a peek in the nest. it can take 36 hours from start to finish for a duckling to hatch.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I hope the little ones hatch! If they do please post pictures

 

[QuacksALot]

Depending on how many hatched and how many are still hatching, they will stay in there for a little while. When you have a moment, just take a peek in the nest. it can take 36 hours from start to finish for a duckling to hatch.

okay thank you! makes me feel a bit better so it’s normal for her to be outside the nest?

 

[QuacksALot]

update— she went into the pond so i used a little spoon to gently move some of the fluff and there’s no more eggs there was about 11.

 

[RossAcres]

update— she went into the pond so i used a little spoon to gently move some of the fluff and there’s no more eggs there was about 11.

Oh no I'm so sorry. are there any fragments? Any sign at all? If not, I'd say a snake got them before they hatched.

 

[QuacksALot]

Oh no I'm so sorry. are there any fragments? Any sign at all? If not, I'd say a snake got them before they hatched.

no egg shells or anything. so heartbreaking must’ve gotten them either last night or the night before because two days ago she booted one of the eggs out of her nest. i feel horrible!!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

no egg shells or anything. so heartbreaking must’ve gotten them either last night or the night before because two days ago she booted one of the eggs out of her nest. i feel horrible!!

I’m so sorry!

 

[QuacksALot]

I’m so sorry!

right now she’s laying in her nest i’ve done nothing but cry i hate snakes