Two part question.. 1: does rinsing the eggs under plain water remove the bloom? 2: how do we get the ducks to lay in a specific spot?
Since ducks lay on the ground, sometimes I have to rinse the eggs. However I have found that a dry scrubee sponge can often buff off anything on an egg if it is dry so I often use this. Often my ducks will lay in the same spot (Make nests of hay in the coop) but good luck in getting them to lay in the same place all the time. They definitely have their own ideas.
I have always very gently rinsed my duck eggs and never had any problems with hatchability. My hatch rate was 100% last time I hatched out ducklings. Their eggs can get pretty gross. I give my girls a little pile of hay once they start laying or showing signs they're about to lay. They always build up a nice nest with it and everyone lays in that spot. Occasionally I'll find one out in the yard later in the day, though.
Try putting golf balls( putting..get it?) or fake eggs in the nestbox. Seems to help my daucks and they always lay ther
