Getting a little discouraged :(

[PetesMom]

Well Ellie started laying on her eggs full time May 26th....giving her eggs about 2 1/2 more weeks until they hatch. She had 16 eggs and when we candled only 4 had something growing in them. She's been very protective of these 4 eggs, rarely ever getting off the nest as be brought food and water to her. I'm worried because the last 2 days she's been spending alot of time outside. Does this mean she's given up? Are the ducklings dead?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well Ellie started laying on her eggs full time May 26th....giving her eggs about 2 1/2 more weeks until they hatch. She had 16 eggs and when we candled only 4 had something growing in them. She's been very protective of these 4 eggs, rarely ever getting off the nest as be brought food and water to her. I'm worried because the last 2 days she's been spending alot of time outside. Does this mean she's given up? Are the ducklings dead?

What do you mean by alot of time? My Muscovy ducks is sitting and when she comes out she is off the nest at least 45 min. longer than any of my other girls have been off, I just have to trust her judgement. Have you candled again? that would be the thing to do.

 

[Going Quackers]

She never came off before? my girls would come out, forage, bathe... fluff their wings lol Check them again... sometimes it can mean something i think Lilac's nest is done.. she has been out more today and wasn't on the nest this morning when i opened the barn?? however we are day 40 so it quite possibly could be the case with her eggs... at over 2wks to go the girls tend to be off more.. as it draws nearer the trips are less frequent and shorter .. at least that is what my dusty did.

 

[PetesMom]

By alot of the time I mean like 3-4 hours. Should I candle them again tonight to see? And no before she wouldn't get off her nest at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

By alot of the time I mean like 3-4 hours. Should I candle them again tonight to see? And no before she wouldn't get off her nest at all.

Thats too long something must be up, could something have scared her? I think candling would be the thing to do.

 

[PetesMom]

She built her nest in the corner of the shed they go in at night and nothing has changed since she started laying her eggs

All of the other ducks stay very clear of her. I'll try candling them tonight. If I don't see any movement I'll assume they have died

 

[Kevin565]

You could try the float test to be sure

 

[PetesMom]

What's the float test? I'm new to this, and so is she. This is her first year laying

 

[JimnTer]

Are you getting extemely warm weather right now? I had a broody hen that was sitting on a mix of duck and chicken eggs that was getting off the nest for extended periods of time when we had some very hot humid weather. Her eggs started hatching last Thursday and continued into Friday. She hatched all 6 duck eggs and 2 out of 3 chicken eggs. I broke open the unhatched chicken egg and it had no development. Based on these results, I wouldn't give up yet.

 

[Kevin565]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching