Duck is playing Hide & Seek...

[Bettyboop7499]

Hello BYC! Happy New Year!

I haven't been on in awhile..sure have missed you all!

So, among so many things going on on the farm I have been waiting FOREVER for my Pekin to start laying eggs, the Runners laid a few in late summer..then stopped. It got quite cold in October..I thought maybe they stop laying...But I haven't seen a duck egg for months. And, I never found a Pekin duck egg. I became distracted by other life situations...

This morning when I was out in the coup I felt something give under my foot..I knew the sound instantly and when I pushed back quite a bit of mulch IT WAS A LARGE WHITE DUCK EGG or or both! I'm happy she can lay but devasted I didn't know they buried their eggs! I have just been waiting patiently

So, I'm guessing..
First-How do I find them?
Second-is it possible the Runners started burying their as well?
Third-how do I stop it?

Thanks everyone! Hope you all had a wonder Christmas!

 

[chickens really]

They all burry their egg. It's what Ducks do before they decide to set. I collect eggs each morning and still find the odd hidden pile. Turn the bedding each morning after collecting eggs helps.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Congrats!! I always offer well-stuffed nest boxes, but my ducks often ignore them. My Runners (first year layers) drop eggs wherever they happen to be in the coop as well as burying them...well. My Muscovy also prefer to bury their eggs. I look for any hints of where the treasure may be buried, like disturbed bedding or a slightly sunken spot. Sometimes, I just dig around randomly in corners or against walls. The Runners stopped laying in the fall - or so I thought until I was aerating their bedding and found a well-buried, big clutch. Like @chickens really said, turning the bedding (gently) will definitely help uncover them.

If you figure out how to get them to lay in nest boxes, let me know, too.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

They all burry their egg. It's what Ducks do before they decide to set. I collect eggs each morning and still find the odd hidden pile. Turn the bedding each morning after collecting eggs helps.

Oh my gosh...The first few eggs were just sitting on top of mulch so... and I have never seen the ducks work the mulch..ever!

Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The older they get the sneakier they get. My Muscovy can sure hide eggs, I can turn the bedding which I do everyday and still miss one only to come In later in the day and Some one has unearthed it!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Nest-boxes where you add a thin layer of fresh straw daily and some artificial eggs helped my ducks to lay where i want them to lay. Still accidents occasionally happen.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Nest-boxes where you add a thin layer of fresh straw daily and some artificial eggs helped my ducks to lay where i want them to lay. Still accidents occasionally happen.

You know, I tried the fake egg thing...and they left me a note that said "nice try" and kept burying their eggs.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

You know, I tried the fake egg thing...and they left me a note that said "nice try" and kept burying their eggs.

Lol! That hilarious!

 

[quackiemama]

Yep it is a daily egg hunt around here. Fortunately mine generally lay in their house before I let them out for the day.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

My ducks JUST started laying. But, my hubby had made them sleeping boxes...basically just lined up wooden boxes so everyone has a nook, they seem to like that, and that’s where I find their poop. Si, I know they’re sleeping in there..and the eggs have been in the corners too...buried most of the time...sneaky buggers!