Duck Laying Behavior Question

[cube]

I have two hens and a drake. Both the hens have gone to sitting on about 10 eggs each. They were sneaky about it so I think they are about 3 weeks in. My question(s) are regarding some odd behavior I have seen, I haven't had ducks very long so I am new to this behavior.

Question 1..One of the hens appears to have quite a bit of feathers missing on her neck, no one seems to be fighting or anything, is she doing something odd?

Question 2...I have been finding eggs in their water dish, its a pretty big dish, they can get in it if the wanted to. The eggs I have found are broken, no more than one egg every few days, almost looks like they have been purposely broken or eaten, which until the last week or so I had never seen. They are fed flock raiser and supplemented with plenty of greens.

Please help a confused duck owner..

 

[Amiga]

Okay, my disclaimer - I don't have direct experience yet with laying. But to bump up your topic, I will offer this.

My first thought about missing neck feathers is the result of how ducks mate.

Raccoons will wash food before eating it, but if they are getting into the area, they would have, I think, gone after the ducks. I have heard that sometimes ducks will peck at eggs.

I hope someone who has seen this can give you a better idea.

What breed of ducks do you have? That may help someone give you ideas.

 

[cube]

The ducks are in a night enclosure so they are safe from most predators..we don't have raccoons in our area.

The hen with the feathers missing is a magpie..The other is a saxony..

 

[lovesduckies]

the missing neck feathers can be from mating. what kind of ducks do you have? my hen who has laying on eggs is missing them too because my drake hold her neck while he does his job lol. and the egg shells might not be strong enough. i had 2 that were broken. if you aren't already mix some oyster shell in with the food with LAYER pellets. sounds to me like the shells might not be strong enough. oyster shell and layer pellets are also good for males to eat. it won't harm them.

good luck!!

 

[lovesduckies]

sorry, i didn't see the breeds, lol, i still think it can be from mating

 

[froggie71]

I agree that the missing neck feathers can be from mating.

As for the eggs in the water, I haven't had this happen, but have been told that it is possible the ducks know the eggs aren't fertile and it is one way that they get rid of them.

 

[cube]

Today I came out to find the two females sitting on their eggs and one egg in the middle of the pen cracked open again. This time inside was some blood and the beginnings of a baby (big eye and beak) One of my neighbors said they are just weeding out eggs they may feel are inferior or not on the same timeline to hatch as the others and I shouldn't worry. Can someone give me some advise? Has anyone seen this before?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have from time to time found cracked eggs aside from the nests. Usually broken if I have not seperated the drakes away when the duck starts sitting- Alot of eggs can be broken when a drake will continue to try and mate with the duck sitting on her clutch.