I don't know what to think, my instinct is to just let nature run its course but I don't know if this is normal. I have a pair of ducks in their own run, she is a first time broody. A week ago I found an egg out in the run far from the nest cracked open. My ducks obviously put it there, I am not sure if it cracked in the nest or on its trip out of the nest. Since it was badly cracked I opened it and found a perfectly normal looking duckling developing inside. I posted here to see if anyone else had that experience but got no responses. Than this morning after letting them out everything was normal. Broody mama ran around like crazy gobbling up any tasy morsels she could find and than went back on her nest like usual. I went back out two hours later and found another egg in the run, outside of the nest cracked almost all the way open. I took it and opened it and again, a normal looking duckling inside. We are close to hatch and I am really worried about whether this will keep happening! It breaks my heart to see the perfectly formed baby with fuzz, feet, wings, eyes, beak with egg tooth, dead for no reason I can puzzle out
Has anyone had this happen to them? Should I jusy leave it be or take the eggs away? Also, is it ok to leave the dad in there with her when the babies hatch? He has been dutifully gaurding her while she has been setting but I don't know what he will think of the babies. Any adive would be greatly appreciated.
