So I have posted in distress because my broody has been pushing eggs out of her nest. One was about two weeks ago, found it in the run cracked open. I opened it all the way and there was a (dead) baby inside. I thought it was sad and strange but hoped she and her mate knew what they were doing. One week later the exact same thing. Found another egg in the run partially cracked open. I opened it all the way to find a dead fully formed, feathered duckling. Again I was distressed and posted about it and decided to trust that she knows something I don't. Three days later I go out and find ANOTHER one, this time right next to the nest completely pulled out of the egg and membrane. Fully formed, feathered, egg tooth and everything. I freaked out. Set up my incubator to get it running and stable. The next day she was off her nest for a couple hours. Now, it was a hot day and she had covered her eggs, but it was the last straw. I took the eggs and put them in the incubator. I put some regular old unfertilized chciken eggs back in the nest. She doesn't seem to know the difference. Now I am worried about reintroduction. I want to slip them under her but don't know how it will work since ducklings imprint so strongly. Do I wait for them to hatch completely and dry off before putting them under her at night, or do I move the eggs at the very first sign of pips back to the nest and underneath her? Has anyone else had to do this? She has never hatched eggs before and I am concerned that she doesn't quite get it. I am so worried......
