It takes 21 days for a chicken egg to hatch and 28 for a duck egg. The duck who laid those eggs was herself taken, we think, by a stoat. She had laid 6 eggs in the duck enclosure and was sitting on them day and night. Perhaps we should have moved her into one of the houses but we thought she was well hidden in the tall grass and nettles. We couldn’t find her for several days. We were mistaken. She and her eggs were all taken. The two eggs that the hen kindly incubated were earlier eggs that she laid and that we had saved to put under a broody hen. So this little duckling won’t have much company (if it survives) just three drakes and a disabled goose. Click below