broody duck

[dbolak]

My Welsh Harlequin girl has decided to go broody. She has a nest under a shrub and I think the other girls are putting eggs there as well. The eggs we have collected from the five girls has gone down to one a day. As the number decreased I began to look for a nest by the time I found it there had to be 12-18 eggs there. I did have two drakes that were very rough on the girls. I sent them away about three weeks ago. Within a week the number of eggs began to decrease.

How long do I let her sit on these eggs? I don't think any are fertile unless a wild mallard has paid a visit. We have many wild ducks in the area, however I have not seen any in the yard. When we go near the area she gets upset.

What do we do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Welsh Harlequin girl has decided to go broody. She has a nest under a shrub and I think the other girls are putting eggs there as well. The eggs we have collected from the five girls has gone down to one a day. As the number decreased I began to look for a nest by the time I found it there had to be 12-18 eggs there. I did have two drakes that were very rough on the girls. I sent them away about three weeks ago. Within a week the number of eggs began to decrease.

How long do I let her sit on these eggs? I don't think any are fertile unless a wild mallard has paid a visit. We have many wild ducks in the area, however I have not seen any in the yard. When we go near the area she gets upset.

What do we do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

I'm not sure she would remain fertile 3 weeks so eggs probably aren't viable. I'd go ahead and destroy the nest after taking the eggs it doesn't make sense to let her sit for 28-30 days for nothing.