Ducks plus goats and eggs?

[NinaDucks]

We have 5 ducks that are 20 weeks old and ready hopefully to start laying. We were putting them to bed at night in their coop, but lately they have gone off to the goat shed on their own at dusk and b Ed down in the shed with the goats. Their area is fenced, but yes, racoons may be a potential I guess even though I haven't ever seen any here.

My question is two-fold, first, should I put them in their coop anyway, and second, if I don't, what will the egg situation be (like what could go wrong here?)?

Thank you so much!! We love our ducks!

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Just make sure that you have their nesting boxes roofed and if they are enclosed even better. My goats are constantly eating the hay out of my chicken nests and then the try to climb in the boxes and stomp on the eggs. I started using nest liners with wood shaving over them and put a roof on my boxes. No problems so far. I have 2 out buildings in my yard. The goats and the chickens all refer the same one. Or have your neating boxea set up in the coop. Only problem with that is that they may find their own place to lay in the goat house.. Birds and goats are butt heads lol. But I love all of them

 

[NinaDucks]

Just make sure that you have their nesting boxes roofed and if they are enclosed even better. My goats are constantly eating the hay out of my chicken nests and then the try to climb in the boxes and stomp on the eggs. I started using nest liners with wood shaving over them and put a roof on my boxes. No problems so far. I have 2 out buildings in my yard. The goats and the chickens all refer the same one. Or have your neating boxea set up in the coop. Only problem with that is that they may find their own place to lay in the goat house.. Birds and goats are butt heads lol. But I love all of them

Ducks don't use nesting boxes was my understanding. They were all in one big coop with straw at night and we were told to not let them out before 8am or they would lay elsewhere. I don't know what happens if we let them sleep with the goats and can-do whatever they want laying wise. :/

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Hmmm...i dont know then. Is the goat pen locked at night?

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think you'd be much better off just putting the ducks to bed in their own pen and locked up tight every night so you don't lose them to predators and you don't lose the eggs because goats stomped on them.

You are correct, you don't need nesting boxes for ducks. They will make their own places to lay eggs and sometimes they lay them on the run, in the run!

 

[Mrichard0930]

As sweet as that is ducks cannot be left out ever. I learned hard way. They have so many predators. I have a shed converted to barn and both goats and ducks get locked up in at night. I even made sure all roof holes were hardware cloth lined to prevent raccoons or weasels to get in l