The best education for both you and the children would be to get your hands on some good books about the basic care of waterfowl. If you do it before you attempt to incubate any eggs, it will probably increase your success, as well as save you all from possible dissapointment. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks and the Book of Geese, both by Dave Holderread, as well as Domestic Duck, and Domestic Geese, both by Chris Ashton, are about the best books out there on domestic waterfowl. Your inability to hatch is not caused by any infertility with your birds, it's your management. No domestic poultry or waterfowl will hatch eggs effectively in a communal nest like you have. The books explain why, and how to manage the birds so that they will have a better chance of hatching their own eggs.

wsi kt, Just a cautionary word, before you order any Mallard duck eggs check with your state agency in charge of enforcing the laws concerning wildlife. Mallards are a migiratory waterfowl and fall under the protection of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In some states you are required to have permits to raise or keep certain species of animals, fowl, fish or reptiles. In Missouri you are required to have them for Mallards, Canadian Geese, Ringneck Pheasants, Bobwhite Quail, Eastern Wild Turkeys, Whitetail Deer, Raccoons, Opposums, Cougars, Bears, and other animals. Do not make the mistake of ordering hatching eggs for a native species without checking first, if you do, someone in a green pick up truck might stop by one afternoon, load up your fowl and hand you a citation to appear in a Federal District Courthouse. Kevin

I recently had a similar issue with a goose. I'd try to take them out when she's away and candle them, just to be sure, then take it from there. You'll find other posts here on how to candle if you don't know how. They'll just eventually rot and "explode", and get stink and grossness all over and on momma. Plus, it's kinda hard on the females to sit for extremely long times. They don't get out and about too much to eat, etc.. They can be so dedicated, can't they?

Our turkey eggs aren't that hard to crack but the guinea eggs sure are lol.