Two of my ducks have gone broody and are sitting on eggs but I have a lot of questions, also complicated by the fact they will be leaving me in the near future.
Firstly, what can I mark the eggs with that will work with ducks? I used a marker with the first few eggs but that rubbed or washed off when they got sat on! Was it just not as 'permanent' as I thought? also I know some say you shouldn't use a marker as it will damage the embryo, but what else then? I'm pretty sure pencil would wash off under a damp duck too, what about a waterproof eyeliner, could that work?
Secondly,if I can find something I can mark the eggs with how do I go about that? There are three ducks total (plus one drake), two nests, and no eggs from the third duck laying around, so I think she must be adding them to the first nest (she started off sitting on it and then gave up but another took over) there's a ridiculous number of eggs in there and she can't possibly be able to keep them all consistently warm and I would like to remove the ones that need to be, and also any new ones, and also just do a head count and work out what stage they are all at etc. Do I just tempt them outside and block them from getting back in while I work as quickly as I can to remove the eggs, candle them all, mark and replace the ones that I should, or will this stress them too much?
I'd also like to give the rest of the house a clean out, is there anything wrong in doing that? And should I do that at the same time or on a different occasion?
Think that's all my questions for now, I will probably have more but need to establish what exactly is going on under those little guys first really. Thanks!
Firstly, what can I mark the eggs with that will work with ducks? I used a marker with the first few eggs but that rubbed or washed off when they got sat on! Was it just not as 'permanent' as I thought? also I know some say you shouldn't use a marker as it will damage the embryo, but what else then? I'm pretty sure pencil would wash off under a damp duck too, what about a waterproof eyeliner, could that work?
Secondly,if I can find something I can mark the eggs with how do I go about that? There are three ducks total (plus one drake), two nests, and no eggs from the third duck laying around, so I think she must be adding them to the first nest (she started off sitting on it and then gave up but another took over) there's a ridiculous number of eggs in there and she can't possibly be able to keep them all consistently warm and I would like to remove the ones that need to be, and also any new ones, and also just do a head count and work out what stage they are all at etc. Do I just tempt them outside and block them from getting back in while I work as quickly as I can to remove the eggs, candle them all, mark and replace the ones that I should, or will this stress them too much?
I'd also like to give the rest of the house a clean out, is there anything wrong in doing that? And should I do that at the same time or on a different occasion?
Think that's all my questions for now, I will probably have more but need to establish what exactly is going on under those little guys first really. Thanks!
a couple weren't in the nest as such, they were outside but under as tho she way have rejected them but tucked them back in, if that makes any sense at all.... She did the same with the one I removed yesterday and left beside the nest just to see if she would return it as I'd not seen her reject any from the nest.... So really she had 32 eggs in her nest altogether! (that's not counting ones I removed from both nests to check for fertility either) 
