Those eggs are not going to hatch. Chicken eggs typically take 21 days so you were right giving her until day 23... but it is obvious at this point that something went wrong and the eggs are not viable. I suggest you remove them and whatever nesting materials she was using. She may fuss and complain, but she will soon forget. If she persists in sitting in that same spot with no eggs, try putting a dozen ice cubes under her. Surprising how fast that will cool her enthusisasm. I have no idea what Carmen meant about the eggs being wet. I've never seen that in any of the clutches my broodies have hatched out. If you have the stomach for it, you can "autopsy" the eggs to see what went wrong. Do it outside, away from the house, because they are going to be rotten. If there is no development at all, just a disgusting thick yellowish mass, then the eggs never started to develop. If there are formed chicks or partly formed, you will know that something happened during incubation that killed them. If the eggs were shipped, lack of any development could have been due to the handling during shipment or the age of the eggs. I'd say give your hen a rest. It is late in the season for hatching - not to say that it is impossible - and if you can wait until spring, chances are you will have happier results.

I have one rooster and 23 hens and have about 80% hatch rate. Have also run two roosters on the same amount of hens but they were from the same hatch and just got used to each other and lived in peace. Did find one a home. If you have more than one rooster your rate of fertility may go down as one will spend a lot of his time interfering with the other in the mating. Kinda of like a bunch of young fellas all interested in the same young lady.

Lu, thanks for the check-in. Silverdove, I was humming that song in the store this evening..."carols on the spinet." I'm doing okay. Busy with my new job and new routines. Crying a little more, maybe, but I've been feeling Jill's presence especially strongly the past couple of weeks. Dreamed about her more than once. It's a good feeling overall. This will be the fourth year I haven't decorated for Christmas. I went out and bought electric candles for the windows, but when the time came I just didn't feel like doing it. But I think next year is a possibility. Most of the downstairs will be finished (remodeling, painting, new furniture), and it would be nice to have the kids here for Christmas again. Maybe I'll take advantage of post-holiday sales to buy an artificial tree for next year. I know I'm not going to have the motivation (or energy) to bring home a real one. Susan

That's so funny! Well you could incubate it artificially. There are small 2-3 egg incubators online for not much money. It's probably fertile if there are more ducks next door. Or you could have a duck egg for breakfast!! I have a feeling you are going to have to figure out how to discourage these ducks from spreading into your yard. Good luck! Kurt