Did my duck mover her eggs?

Hi, I have read that ducks do not move their eggs. I have a duck house that they have not left for several days due to the weather. I am certain there are no predators that could access the nest. I have candled my eggs that are very close to hatching. I candled them two days ago and there were three ready to hatch in this one nest. I have two nests with eggs developing by two mothers. I went in the next day and there were then four, which were all close to hatching. I then went in today and there was only one egg in this nest and the other three were moved into a new nest, which a third female was laying on. I now have three nests and they keep moving their eggs. Is it possible they are eating their own eggs? Will they eat the ducklings? I am confused on what is happening?

I suspect they may be moving the eggs. Mine also hide eggs in the bedding. Since their eggs are duds, I am not sure about the particulars of what happens close to hatch day.

Perhaps @Going Quackers or @Miss Lydia or @Orca5094 or others have some experienced insight.

Amiga said:

I suspect they may be moving the eggs. Mine also hide eggs in the bedding. Since their eggs are duds, I am not sure about the particulars of what happens close to hatch day.

Perhaps @Going Quackers or @Miss Lydia or @Orca5094 or others have some experienced insight.

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They will move their eggs and having 3 ducks nesting close together may cause some ducklings to be trampled on if mamas fight over who the ducklings belong too. I've never had one of my female eat her eggs or ducklings but I had one try and kill one of her ducklings when it hatched. A new mama and great broody I just think she freaked out once the duckling hatched thankfully I was able to save the duckling from her. What I would do is either take all eggs and put then under the broody that has been on the nest the longest [if all eggs look like they are going to hatch at the same time.] If you have some that are going to hatch at later date keep them separate put closest to hatch day under one female and all others under the other longest broody and make them their own space you can do this with a large dog crate or plastic poultry fencing but you need to keep these mamas and her ducklings separate because mamas are fierce when ducklings hatch. Once the ducklings are around 2-3 weeks old and know who mama is and can keep out of the way of each other then you can try them out in the general pop, but you'll still have to keep a close eye on all the ducks and [drakes] that ducklings are safe. My mamas usually stay with their ducklings till around 4 weeks old in the spot they hatched them in. so keep it safe. The 3rd female will just have to wait her turn. She won't be happy but best to only have 2 mamas than ducklings hatching under 3 different ones and losing some or all.

My momma are famous for moving eggs, stealing eggs and yes, even eating them. I've also found that sometimes when building the new nest, eggs will get used as building materials.

caesargirl said:

My momma are famous for moving eggs, stealing eggs and yes, even eating them. I've also found that sometimes when building the new nest, eggs will get used as building materials.

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I've never seen one use eggs as building material that would be interesting.

Rather morbid actually. When Triumph moved her giant community nest last season, she went from 27 eggs to 12.... I scrambled the nest later and found the eggs, partially developed.

caesargirl said:

Rather morbid actually. When Triumph moved her giant community nest last season, she went from 27 eggs to 12.... I scrambled the nest later and found the eggs, partially developed.

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Makes you wonder what goes on in the mind of some of these broody's.

Miss Lydia said:

Makes you wonder what goes on in the mind of some of these broody's.

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I personally believe that they're just nutters! Hormones and such!!!!

caesargirl said:

I personally believe that they're just nutters! Hormones and such!!!!

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Boy I can vouch for that.