Can you touch a egg and put it back into the nest?q

[Xlilpinkfing]

Hi guys. I was wondering if you could touch a egg and put it back into the nest. I have a muscovy duck witch is sitting on her eggs right now. Can i touch it?
I need help! QUICK!

 

[canesisters]

Yes...
But why do you need to?

 

[Xlilpinkfing]

I was asking because i was going to candle the eggs then put them back into the nest.

 

[canesisters]

I would think, best done while she's off eating or something so you don't upset her too much. May depend more on the duck's temperament than anything else.

 

[Xlilpinkfing]

And the eggs smell, i dont know why but just smell do you have any idea of what it can be ?
Thnks

 

[yo burrill]

Nests tend to smell a little anyways. If they smell really bad there is probably a rotten egg in the nest. And these will explode eventually so be careful handling them. If you smell each of them you should be able to tell which one it is.

 

[Xlilpinkfing]

It dosent smell really bad, it just kind of smells. Anyways, do you know where i could find a cheap coop from?

 

[yo burrill]

YOu looking for a duck coop?? Most ducks prefer to be on the ground. Just a basic insulated dog house with a latching door would work for a few birds.....

 

[Nsampsel]

Here's what my ducks have (total 18 ducks, mostly bantams like calls & mallards):

4X8 run 4 ft tall with attached 3x3 nest box with lift lid 2 ft tall

It's actually a bit small for that many ducks, even bantams, but luckily most of mine are not full grown yet & are only about a month & a half old. I'll be making another pen, maybe 2, identical to this one before Winter so I can grow out the Runner & Ancona babies I have in the bator & separate my larger ducks from the bantams & grow outs. I have a 2x3 dog box 3 ft tall that I'm working on making the roof into a lift lid for the next pen. I'll use it for my Runners &/or Anconas since they are taller than the calls & mallards.

I can't free-range since I'm in town, so I just put a little pool in my pen for swimming.