Why can't my momma ducks hatch their eggs?

[Lilyt]

Okay, for YEARS now I've let my girls sit their nests. This year, I let Twix have her nest. She built a world-class nest and she had LOTS of eggs. We locked her down with food and water in a good size wire cage hoping that a little peace and quiet might help. She must've moved her nest 4 times in that house. And then, at one point, she seemed to cull out about 25 eggs. I brought them in and set them in the incubator. Out of those 25 ducks, I have about 7 baby ducks. She still has eggs in her nest, but no babies.

My mallard was setting but she just totally gave up her nest the other day. I candled those eggs and I don't think they'll hatch, but I'll set them for about a week to see.

Am I doing something wrong?

I have 4 other ducks on nests. I'm scared they won't hatch any eggs either. Is there a secret I'm missing? They're missing?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Amiga]

Have you contacted @sourland ?

 

[ReeChatelain]

I'd love too know too.. I'm on my second batch of incubating eggs because she was randomly laying them all over the place. (I tried leaving them but predators were finding them first) we built her another house away from the chickens and closer to the pond. She now has a nest full but she isn't staying on it all day. I'm worried she isn't staying long enough too keep them warm enough. Its been about a week that she's spending several hours a day but by lunch she wonders off. I think she needs to read some of my how to raise duck books!

 

[Amiga]

There is a broody duck thread (labelled 2014, but it is still active) you might try there, too. sourland is a "broody magician," so I thought he may be able to help.

 

[Lilyt]

I don't know sourland but at this point, I will try anything! They are GREAT brooders. They sit and sit and sit. And then, nothing. I came close once, but I found the eggs crushed and only one duckling was still breathing. I took it in and put it in the hatcher hoping it might survive but it didn't.

How on earth do they make it in the wild????