Duck kindly hiding eggs...

[llmjdd]

My darling pekin has so kindly been hiding her eggs... She is so cheeky.

How long does everyone recommend they can sit for in the hutch before needing to come out and be refrigerated?

Thanks all

 

[Deleted member 94844]

If you are planning to eat them they need to be removed immediately... I would be wary of the ones she's sitting on, tho, since you don't know how long she's been hoarding them!

 

[Majd]

It she hs been hiding them but didn't finish laying her clutch and didn't sit on them yet.... you can take them and eat them... but if you see her sitting most of the time on them there no chance you can eat them... as if you have a drake they would be fertile and the embryo will begin to grow.... and if no drake in the area they got bad and you can't eat them.... good luck and keep us posted....

 

[llmjdd]

Thanks both - think we will chuck all to be sure!

She's a right handful. Not sure if she's been sitting on them - am I right in saying ducks are normally not overly broody?

 

[Deleted member 94844]

It totally depends on the duck... my female Pekin would lay eggs and totally ignore them, but I've heard about others that actually sat on nests. I think it is uncommon, tho. Other breeds are more prone to broodiness.

 

[BlackPanther]

I had Moscovies and Pekins. Muscovies are supposed to be highly broody. Both my Moscovy and and one of my Pekin hens went broody -- my Moscovy got taken on her nest so I tried to move the Pekin to a safe place; but once moved, she would not sit anymore. I've since heard that you can't successfully move broody waterfowl. Is that true?

 

[llmjdd]

It totally depends on the duck... my female Pekin would lay eggs and totally ignore them, but I've heard about others that actually sat on nests. I think it is uncommon, tho. Other breeds are more prone to broodiness.

just went out and found another egg

it was warm.

trust me to get a broody pekin!

 

[Majd]

I read that Pekin are not broody a lot. .. but some go broody and hatch babies. ...

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

The Pekins I had were my best Broodies. I chuckle every time I read that "Pekins won't go broody" I had 3 that were totally the best moms ever! ... But I wouldn't eat any eggs that you don't know were freshly laid.