Muscovy Hen--is it warm enough to leave her eggs in the nest?

[BirdBrain]

The snow is melting rapidly around here with highs in the upper 30's to mid 40's during the day and dropping down to right at freezing or a bit higher at night. She has laid 4 eggs which I have replaced with golf balls and brought in. She is sitting on her "eggs" at night but out and about during the day. I assume she doesn't think she has enough to sit in ernest. What I am wondering is if it is okay to just leave her eggs for her.

Will they be okay at these temps if she is keeping them warm at night? Or will they start to develop and die because she is off them during the day.

I've never had a broody duck before and don't know what to expect. Any help would be so appreciated.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

She isn't incubating them yet if she is getting off them all day. If it's still below freezing when she leaves in the a.m. or drops before she's on them at night they still may freeze. That said, my girls did the same and though there was some loss of development with some of the eggs, a good many still hatched. I'm thinking if it had been warmer more would have developed/hatched this first time around.

 

[dumb_cluck]

Don't know much about Skovies, but, mallards will get off the nest knowing they will lay more later and then decide the clutch is ready and will let them "stay" until ready. About 28 days.

 

[BirdBrain]

Thanks y'all! She has continued to lay. One of the others has add a couple as well. She is up to 8 now. She keeps them warm at night since the temps dip below freezing still but is off the nest all day. I hope she gets busy sitting soon.