***UPDATE***There are now 13 eggs (up from 10 on Monday) that I can see. There may be more covered up with debris.
After Daisy got off her secret stash of eggs yesterday I peeked through the boards above to see if I could count them. I could count 10 that were visible. She's got the rest of them covered with debris.
Now that I've found Daisy's clutch of eggs, I'm wondering what I should do next. She's not incubating the eggs long enough in my opinion. She'll sit on the eggs half the day and spend the other half with the drakes in the pond.
If she were setting those eggs in ernest, I'd leave them be. As it is, I fear I'm going to have a pile of rotten duck eggs in a few weeks. Near as I can tell she's been laying these eggs for about 2 weeks straight.
The eggs are in the farthest corner beneath the front porch. I'm not little enough to crawl in there and retrieve them and neither is anyone I live with. I've thought about using a hoe to pull them out.
What would you do in this situation?
Now that is a hard question to answer! I'm not sure if you took her eggs away if she would turn mean against you or not. Looks like some research will have to be done. I sure wish I knew something about it but I don't. I was so hoping to see some babies but if she is doing what you say then you really don't want to smell that. If you do take them away make sure you do it when she is not around!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Angela
Hi Amy, I think a goose may turn against you for disturbing her nest, but not a duck ( I may be wrong here, we have had both) I would use a rake or potato hook to drag out the eggs. I'd break one to see if it looks good, and if so, I'd incubate the rest. I think ducks are 28 days(?)
ReplyDeleteDon't do anything... she is probably just not done laying them all yet. She may lay up to 20 before she starts to set. Our muscovy duck laid 10 and then started setting and I have not seen her get off the nest yet. She is due to hatch them out at the end of May so I will tell you what we find out. Ducks are 28 days instead of 21 like chickens.
ReplyDeleteJanine
Hmmmmm....I'd let them be. Count the day you found them as day one. Count them every day to make sure she doesn't lay more. Then leave them through the incubation period. If nothing happens, leave them about 5 days longer... then yank them. If you yank themnow or then... you will still have them and they won't begin to smell or anything by then. just my 2 cents. :0)
ReplyDeleteI don't think she put up a fight if I took her eggs from her. A good would definitely do some damage but not my silly Daisy duck.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to follow Stone Bridge Farm's advice and keep count on the eggs while she is off the nest to make sure she hasn't laid anymore.
My kingdom for a broody hen! Then I wouldn't be going through this turnoil over duck eggs being semi-incubated!
What a pickle! lol! I have no experience with this, but the advice you've received sound good.
ReplyDeleteAfter all this is done, though, I'd be covering up any openings under your porch, so you don't have to worry about critters laying under there...or dying. gah!
Good luck. Can't wait to see if you get some baby ducks soon.
~Lisa
I wouldn't do anything anytime soon unless it is real hot there. The eggs won't rot for a long, long time. Here, we just keep having rainy, cool weather which keeps us from getting any work done at the barn.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help! Oh and yes I agree....cover them openings! :0)
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your dilemma. I had a similar situation a few years ago with a wild duck laying against the house under a bush. I kept wanting to peep in at her as she sat so I could see when the ducklings hatched. I settled to put a baby monitor next to the nest and then I could sit on the porch or inside the house and listen.
ReplyDelete