A question for all the duck pros out there.

[thequeensblessing]

Ok, I have 3 muscovy ducks, a drake (beautiful boy!) and 2 hens. I don't know how old they are as they were given to me as adults a couple of years ago. The hens lay and set every year, but they never hatch anything out. I've gathered up their eggs and put them in the incubator. The ducklings develop to nearly hatching size, and then die sometime just before hatching date. I went to one of the abandoned nesting areas where one of the female muscovies had been setting and sure enough, inside those eggs were fully developed ducklings that never hatched. As hard as those girls try, they have never hatched out a single duckling. This year, we have one of them some khaki campbell and pekin eggs to hatch out and she did a great job of it, so she finally has the little family she's always wanted. But my question is, what would be causing these eggs to develop to that point and then routinely die just before hatching? I've tried to research it and just can't find anything. It's not just one duck, it's both of the muscovy ducks. Could it be the drake? Old age? Is this why I was given these ducks? Any suggestions would be helpful. I am going to purchase more muscovies and just let this older trio live out their lives here on the farm as foster moms.

[HorseFeatherz]

I do not know if this is your problem, but I have seen this in my flock.

My flock is closely related – Dill and Dough were call duck brothers from I am guessing the same clutch, Dough and my large duck Henry hatched a clutch – one was Aflack. Aflack and Dill (her uncle) have become a pair – Dough was killed when he flew out of the run and was grabbed by a dog.

Aflack/Dill hatch fantastic clutches – if she sets 6 she hatches 6, if 8 then 8. She is six this year, Dill 7 and setting her first clutch of the year (I fear the eggs froze before she actually went broody but we shall see)

If her daughters and sons cross with each other – the clutches never pip. The ducklings are full formed, yolk absorbed but the duckling never breaks the air cell. Should the daughters cross back with their father Dill, the clutch hatches.

So for us, I figure our line is too close, maybe it is in yours also.

[Cyngbaeld]

I agree, it is most likely inbreeding. Some new blood should solve the problem.

[thequeensblessing]

You know, I never thought of inbreeding! Thanks guys (gals)! I know nothing about their line, and they very well could be very closely related.