breeding and/or hatching questions

[bernie131]

Ok,..I know I will sound stupid but how many times does it take to fertilize the eggs,...she has laid 20 so far,..like she did last year but they were not fertile,..I think Mama made sure of that,..so my question is does it take one insemination or several times?,....Could the 1st eggs she laid be infertile then "Rocky" comes along and the rest get fertilized,...or,......what? I am obviously new in the fowl department but have taken care of many animals,..raised 22(house) rabbits for 9 yrs so been thru the gamut with those babies,...
What if she starts sitting them,..do I then bring her here with the eggs and help her make a (secure)nest,..she will be depressed with no other ducks or her pond,..I am so frustrated!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m more familiar with chickens than ducks but the basic principles will be the same. When a mating occurs the sperm is stored in a container near where the egg starts its internal journey. It takes an egg about a full day to make that internal journey and it can only be fertilized during the first few minutes of that journey. That means if a mating takes place on a Thursday, Thursday’s egg is not fertile. Friday’s egg might be but don’t count on it. Saturday’s egg will be fertile. Of course, that is after a successful mating.

With chickens that sperm remains viable for about two weeks after a mating. It can vary by individual but I’d assume ducks are much the same way. One mating every week and a half to two weeks should keep the eggs fertile.

Whether the eggs are fertile or not has nothing to do with a duck or chicken laying an egg. The presence of a male has nothing to do with a chicken going broody, I assume it’s the same with ducks.

I’ve never fooled with ducks so I’ll have to let others answer the moving the nest part.