Found that she hid a nest. Next Steps?

[TripletsAndChickens]

Hi!!

At the beginning of October, I found that one of my pekins had set herself up a nest in an older coop that we had stopped using because it needed some minor repairs. At that point, I asked a few friends who were more experienced than I am what I should do- whether I should leave them and let her sit on them or if I should pull them inside and into the incubator. Everyone I asked agreed that I should leave the nest alone and let her do her thing. (We have repaired the coop since deciding to let her keep the nest in there)

She's very attentive to the nest and is always sitting on the eggs, and covers them when she's not on them. I have no idea exactly what day they'd be on and I don't know if the count is different when a duck hatches them. I've only ever hatched in an incubator.

Anyways, I peeked in this evening and managed to catch right as she was getting up so I got a look and snapped a picture. One of the eggs has a few dark spots.

Should I try to candle all the eggs? I've been afraid to disturb them at all.

I guess I'm just getting anxious as we near what must be around 28 days without any ducklings. Any information or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Definitely candle them all. Those dark spots could mean the eggs are rotten and should be removed right away.

Also, WOW, that’s a lot of eggs! Do not be surprised if you’ll have to finish incubating some of those eggs yourself. The one broody Pekin I had laid 10 eggs, started sitting, and then laid an additional 10 eggs after sitting. She hatched 11, 1 never developed, and I finished the other 8 in my ‘bator.

 

[TripletsAndChickens]

Definitely candle them all. Those dark spots could mean the eggs are rotten and should be removed right away.

Also, WOW, that’s a lot of eggs! Do not be surprised if you’ll have to finish incubating some of those eggs yourself. The one broody Pekin I had laid 10 eggs, started sitting, and then laid an additional 10 eggs after sitting. She hatched 11, 1 never developed, and I finished the other 8 in my ‘bator.

Did she accept the other 8 back without issue or did you have to let them grow out a while in the brooder then try to introduce them when they're big enough to hold their own in the flock?

 

[KathiQuacks]

Did she accept the other 8 back without issue or did you have to let them grow out a while in the brooder then try to introduce them when they're big enough to hold their own in the flock?

I did not keep the extra 8, so I can’t say from personal experience, however, I’ve read that most have to brood the additional ducklings themselves and introduce later. Most mama ducks will only take in ducklings that they believe they hatched themselves.