Muscovy eggs 46 days old

[Redtx]

I have a broody hen/ first time mama that’s been on nest for 45 days. I assume I have to get her off the nest and discard the 12 eggs. How do I do that? How do I figure out what went wrong? I have 3 drakes and 8 hens purchased as ducklings one year ago, and she was the first and only one to lay eggs so far.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You take her off get the eggs out of the nest clean up put down fresh shavings and if she still insists on going back block it off from her. Then if you want to find out if any started to develop you'll have to open up the eggs.
Hard to say what may have gone wrong but you'll have many more chances this spring and summer for them to try again. They love to brood.

 

[chickens really]

You have to physically remove her..Did you ever Candle the eggs?..Get her off the nest and Candle them...Are you sure she sat for 45 days?..They lay eggs and then begin to set them..So they could still hatch?

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. If she actually set on them that long, they are not viable. If you try an egg topsy, be careful. They have been known to explode.

 

[Redtx]

I never did candle them. But I marked a calendar and watched every day. I knew when she went broody, then counted. I will take care of the eggs and clean up today.

 

[Redtx]

I removed hen from the nest and retrieved the eggs. They all look the same so I cracked 2 and found ducklings maybe 1 week from hatching when they died. We had temps in the teens that week. Is it possible she left the nest and let them get too cool? Btw the membrane around the baby was very dry and white.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's too bad. This is not a good time of year even for our birds to be hatching not sure if temps could have done something to the eggs but maybe, Especially if she was off for quite a while. I have 2 chocolate orps who are broody I have to check under them 3-4 times a day because the hens keep giving them eggs to hatch. It's way too early.
Very sorry for her and you.

 

[Redtx]

Thank you all for your info and advice.we’llkeep trying