Questions about a new broody and eggs going bad

[Goat_Walker]

Well I have a new broody magpie, and her eggs are due to hatch the 23rd ish. Im not sure exactly when she started laying. this is her first nest and she has been really good with setting on her nest of 17 eggs.


Well lately ( two days ago till today) ive noticed she has been off the nest a little more than usual. Today she was off at least five times, and each time at least twenty minutes. My buff doesnt get off that much. Is she preparing to get serious or is she considering abandoning the nest?


Also, it seems that everyday , or every other day, I am having to take out rotten eggs. When I notice a mam off the nest I stick my head in and sniff at the nest to make sure they are still good - and ive been finding alot of bad eggs! its outrageous! When my two girls started I had a total of 33+ eggs. Now I have about 27. Is she missing some when turning? They were all fertilized when she started setting seriously, I candled them all to make sure.



So whatsgoing on with my eggs? and my Miss Magpie Mama?


But on the plus side another of my girls has started laying, made a nest and everything.

 

[Goat_Walker]

No one?

 

[streemers]

well she is a first time mama so give her time

but i hope you get some sort of hatch out of her. it is always hard waiting and getting all excited then nothing

 

[Goat_Walker]

I know it! My buff's first hatch only produced one ducklings. Of course we had her nesting spot go through a tornado, and suffer from the stomping of goats and such when they kicked her out. But her second bunch was a 12 /15 hatch so that was good. Im hoping to get a good turn out from both my girls and that I got the dates right. I wouldnt want to come home to ducklings in the yard! Im going out of state for a few days.