duck nesting

[derby]

I had given up on my duck ever laying eggs. Now, at 11 months old, she seems to be laying outside in the run. As far as I can tell, she has never gone into the henhouse with the chickens. Of course, she has started laying in the low spot in the run where it gets muddy. Will she use a nesting box (a milk crate?) if I put it there, or do they prefer to lay in the open?

Thanks, Derby

 

[1lpoock]

Ducks lay eggs wherever the eggs pop out..

 

[cracking up]

Mine lays in a kitty litter box with straw in it. My runners lay in a nest box with straw. They seem to prefer it. What breed is she?

 

[luvallmychicks]

My ducks lay every where! Some times in the hen house, the duck house, and out side in the mud. I never know. I just keep places for her all around the pen. I have a hen house with 20 boxes, 2 dog houses, one big duck house, and a small nest box. She has been in every one of them. Some time I will get 4-5 in one spot then she will move to new one. Mine are funny that way.

 

[1lpoock]

Sometimes they will lay in the straw, but rarely in nest boxes built for chickens.

 

[derby]

Yikes! She is a khaki campbell. I just put a litter box of straw in that muddy corner. Maybe that will help keep the eggs clean

Thanks!

Derby

 

[1lpoock]

Let us know how it goes!

 

[missionarywife]

My ducks make my own nests but I can't get her to go broody.

 

[Brickman House]

Good idea to try a nest box, though at least in my experience, it may not do much to keep the eggs clean! My girls lay in their duck house, and promptly bury the eggs and do their best to get them utterly filthy. I think they import mud into the house.

 

[jbear]

Quote:
hahah! mine too..

and NO KIDDING, they lay an egg wherever it pops out-- I almost stepped on one the other day, it was in the middle of the yard...

but usually they are buried somewhere, I have to kinda go digging for them, they never use the nest boxes.. Wish they would, it would be easier! I followed one of my hens one morning and totally found the eggpot.. hidden in the straw in the goat pen... about 8 eggs in there..