Question about broody Mandarin

[LALADY1101]

I have a Mandarin hen that has been on a next for a LONG time. I know it's been longer than 28 days because I have call duck eggs that I collected about a week after she went broody and they are pipping as I type this. She has the eggs buried under shavings and some feathers. She only comes out about 2X a day to eat. Could she be sitting on non-fertile eggs? I'm scared to move any of the shavings and candle the eggs for fear of her abandoning the nest. She is 2yrs old, but this is her first time sitting. Can anyone advise me as to what I should do? Should I give her more time? Will she abandon the nest if I move the shavings to candle the eggs? Thanks!

 

[chickenlisa]

I don't think she will abandon the nest. I did that to see if my Mandy's eggs were fertile and she went back to the nest and hatched 8 babies after I thought they were due to hatch (like a week after!) I also did that with my 2nd Mandy and took the eggs and hatched them in my incubator. they hatched almost a week after I thought they were due to also. Try it and Good Luck!

 

[LALADY1101]

Quote:
Thank you!!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I took my mandarins eggs out to candle them when she came out one evening. She didn't mind at all.