Duck eggs questions

[tndalexander]

Hi my ducks have been laying eggs like crazy this past month & one I cracked was actually "fertile" as it had a tiny duck smaller then a dime in the egg.

So I placed a box down to try & help the ducks. I have never had ducks breed. I have chickens, chicken eggs must stay clean. I think it is the same for ducks but my ducks eggs stay dirty. Are the ducks eggs the same as the chicken eggs? Can I do something to keep the eggs clean?

What is the best method for allowing ducks to hatch their eggs?

 

[jdywntr]

Just like chickens, ducks need a coop and nesting area that will remain clean. If your chickens and ducks are together or the chickens have access to your duck's pen, make sure they can't roost above the nest. You can lean a piece of wood up against a wall so the duck has some privacy for an easy makeshift nest. If you have dirt floors in the coop, make sure it remains dry. If you have flooring, a deep layer of bedding will keep them clean and provide nesting material.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

I would be sure to separate the broody duck and her eggs at all times, both during incubation and for a couple months after they hatch. I've lost baby ducks that were killed by chickens and other ducks when they wandered away from the nest.

 

[tndalexander]

My ducks are separate from the chickens. One of my hens will get in with the ducks she gets removed but she lays on the duck eggs while she manages a break in. The hen can not get to a rooster so I know the fertile eggs are not hers.

The duck eggs are in a box like thing with one side open for easy in & out but the eggs seem to have streaks of mud on them the ducks were laying their eggs in an area in the back of the pen under a shelf like board so I placed the eggs in the box. However they seem to have tracked mud from the water area back to the eggs.

I will try to add lots of bedding & hope this works. Thanks for the idea.

 

[tndalexander]

Wow I never thought of that so we are getting a bad cold snap out here maybe I can house momma duck & the eggs in doors in a kennel in the basement. Dont want any hen pecked baby ducks. We have had a hard time getting baby ducks to thrive here ppl have rescued ducks & brought them here but it did not go well I put them in an incubator. These ducks were bought fully feathered one the muscovey was in an onion sack in the summer it was so hot I felt sorry for her bought her to take her home give her some water & let her shake her tail feathers. I did not like her being in the onion sack. I dont know if this is normal so I do not want to offend but I thought it seemed mean

The other 2 some one bought for me they look like Indian runners they are black, the only duckling we had sucess with was the mystry duck Jess Duckie he just appeared on our property with 4 hens he likes to stay by them a specled sussex a marran (&love of his life) a orphington, and a barred He stays with those 4 hens & managed to grow into a full grown duck. I am not sure if he is Mallard, Roghin or what we had a debate thread on him here some place. He has all his toes.

I am not sure who is breeding with whom, but the eggs are smaller for duck eggs & are brown, can I wash them clean? I know it is not good to wash eggs so I was asking are there any diferent ways to treat a duck egg from a chicken egg?