I have a small flock of Pekins, about 9 months in age at this point, two drakes, three hens. (three more recently hatched, irrelevant to this).
Since the "end" of winter, one of the hens has been sitting a fresh nest of eggs - eggs they began dropping early-mid January - and the eggs of all three hens. Some days, she's on it all day. Other days, she ignores it almost entirely. Over the last five weeks, approximately, none of the eggs have hatched, though I sometimes see her turning them. The "nest" itself has grown to two nest in size, she can't cover them all, and there must be close to 30 eggs, if not more.
I'm worried that old eggs are just going to rot/spoil - but don't want to disturb any that might still be viable. Don't see a "way out" of this quandary, though I fear none of the eggs are any good.
I've built a new run and home for my ducks, and need to move them to it soon. Should I just bite the bullet, make the move, and dispose of the eggs in the nests? Should I candle and try to move things with apparent movement? Something else?
Any experience would be appreciated. I was not planning to give up my small incubator to another batch of ducks at this time - I've fresh chickens going in, so its not an option to finish baking any "movers" there.
Since the "end" of winter, one of the hens has been sitting a fresh nest of eggs - eggs they began dropping early-mid January - and the eggs of all three hens. Some days, she's on it all day. Other days, she ignores it almost entirely. Over the last five weeks, approximately, none of the eggs have hatched, though I sometimes see her turning them. The "nest" itself has grown to two nest in size, she can't cover them all, and there must be close to 30 eggs, if not more.
I'm worried that old eggs are just going to rot/spoil - but don't want to disturb any that might still be viable. Don't see a "way out" of this quandary, though I fear none of the eggs are any good.
I've built a new run and home for my ducks, and need to move them to it soon. Should I just bite the bullet, make the move, and dispose of the eggs in the nests? Should I candle and try to move things with apparent movement? Something else?
Any experience would be appreciated. I was not planning to give up my small incubator to another batch of ducks at this time - I've fresh chickens going in, so its not an option to finish baking any "movers" there.
