Duck eggs!

[Kwilliams38]

Help!
This is my first experience with duck eggs. They are not in an incubator they are with mom. Today is day 28 and nothing there was movement yesterday but not today and this makes day two of momma duck not staying on her nest like before! There is no pipping or anything I don’t want to bother her or I would sit and watch them all day!

 

[BoundlessLove]

If NO pips and mom isn’t on the nest, quickly and carefully take them inside and candle them.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. I would do as @BoundlessLove suggested.

 

[BoundlessLove]

If you’ve never candled eggs, this article will help you.
Although it is for chicken eggs, scroll down to day 18 pics to get an idea of what you should be seeing for duck eggs. Also, what breed are you duck eggs?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/

 

[Kwilliams38]

I candled them yesterday and there was movement but this morning no movement and no piping. Mom is a pekin and the boys I have are just runner ducks not sure the breed. I’m worried cause she’s not been staying on them she’s been laying outside the coop with the boys. And I don’t want the boys to kill the babies as they hatch.

 

[Kwilliams38]

If NO pips and mom isn’t on the nest, quickly and carefully take them inside and candle them.

With her being off the nest I’ve been able to go in and candle them but this morning no movement but no piping either.

 

[Kwilliams38]

If you’ve never candled eggs, this article will help you.
Although it is for chicken eggs, scroll down to day 18 pics to get an idea of what you should be seeing for duck eggs. Also, what breed are you duck eggs?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs.47879/

I just looked at the link they do look like day 18 it’s harder to see with them being so full but the pocket is still pretty big. Yesterday I could see one of the eggs beak but I can’t today.

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

Have you heard of water testing? Fill up a bowl with water around 40 degrees celcius. Put the eggs in. If they sink chuck them. They should float with the air sack part of the egg out of the water, if they do that keep them, it's even better if they move while they do that as that is definitely alive. Candle them first to make sure there are no pips/cracks that the water can get through

 

[BoundlessLove]

If she has been off the nest for two days, they are possibly dead.
Are they cold/cool to the touch?
Do you have an incubator you could use for these eggs in case they are alive?
Since she isn’t staying on the eggs, I would re-candle and check for ANY movement.

 

[Kwilliams38]

Have you heard of water testing? Fill up a bowl with water around 40 degrees celcius. Put the eggs in. If they sink chuck them. They should float with the air sack part of the egg out of the water, if they do that keep them, it's even better if they move while they do that as that is definitely alive. Candle them first to make sure there are no pips/cracks that the water can get through

I’m gonna try this! Thank you!
One of the boys keep going in laying on the nest today I tried tapping one that I know for sure was moving yesterday to see if it moved but nothing! Could they die this close to hatch day?