Should we incubate eggs??

[Gdove419]

Hi everyone,
We have several ducks and chickens. We found that one of our khaki Campbell females was sneaking out of the run, and long story short, she was making a nest. By the time we caught on to what she was doing, she had a full nest and that same night was when she was ready to start sleeping on the nest. She had not stayed out all night before, so we hadn’t seen what she was up to. We agonized over letting her sleep outside, but she was in a fairy well-hidden spot and we were afraid if we disturbed the nest, she would abandon the eggs. Early every morning she would come out to eat and drink with all the others, and again in the afternoon. After two weeks of this, she went missing. My husband heard her quacking in the morning but by the time he went out couldn’t find her. Later that afternoon she turned up several houses away, hiding in a neighbors yard. We brought her back. She returned to her nest, but she was afraid to come out. Wouldn’t come out to eat or drink. We finally got her out to eat and then she was afraid to go back to her nest. She sat and watched it through the fence but wouldn’t go to it. Finally we moved it to a small coop in the run and put her in with it. I’m afraid we disturbed everything too much. Now she looks sad. Won’t go back in. The other birds have been nosy and moved the eggs around. She will sit near but will not go in. My husband want to put the eggs in an incubator to give them a chance. Has anyone had this happen? I feel terrible that we moved her nest but clearly she was in danger being outside. She’s limping a bit and still isn’t eating much. Sorry for the loong post but not sure what else to do

 

[Floof]

It's not that uncommon to move a nest to a safer place. If she won't sit on them when locked in the makeshift broody coop then you could try an incubator but that would mean brooding them yourself as she is unlikely to take them back.

 

[sourland]

I've never successfully moved a setting duck. If you want the eggs to hatch, you will need to use an incubator.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

If the eggs haven't been sat on for a few days I doubt they are viable unless you have been in the 90s. That may be why she is rejecting them.

 

[Gdove419]

Thanks for the advice everyone! It’s only been today that she will not sit, and two days ago for several hours when she got lost. I think we will candle them to see if we can tell if they are viable. If she won’t go back, I have a broody Muscovy also. Should I put the eggs under her? She has a few of her own but I frequently find chicken eggs under her as well