egg laying/nesting behavior

[johari]

How do I interpret this behavior:

My khaki Campbell is a year old at least. I got her about a week ago. Since her eggs may be fertile (she was kept with a male) I've just left her eggs in her nest she's made. There are five eggs.

This morning I went out to check the nest and there was one egg outside it and the other four she had covered up with straw. She was outside the nest and coop, and is now happily free ranging, but she does have access to the nest.

Should I put the one egg back? Is this typical nesting behavior?

 

[johari]

Eggs in nest. I put the fifth one back. I covered them back up after I took a picture.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Usually if Momma Duck kicks out an egg, it is because she knows something we don't. I have put eggs back inside nests, if she has an issue with it being there, she'll kick it out again. If you keep seeing the same egg kicked out over and over, you might as well toss it.

 

[johari]

Ok. Is her covering the nest with bedding normal? And when about should I expect her to actually start sitting on them? She hasn't been to visit the nest at all today.

Usually if Momma Duck kicks out an egg, it is because she knows something we don't. I have put eggs back inside nests, if she has an issue with it being there, she'll kick it out again. If you keep seeing the same egg kicked out over and over, you might as well toss it.

 

[muskuslove]

They usually will lay up to 15/20 eggs, then start sitting on them. But sometimes they will start sitting on them at 8 or 10 eggs.
For now she will go her own way. Once a day she will lay an egg.
What climate are you in? Winter is coming and it might get to cold outside now for the young ones...

 

[johari]

I'm in Virginia, near the coast. It stays pretty warm here till at least the beginning of November.

They usually will lay up to 15/20 eggs, then start sitting on them. But sometimes they will start sitting on them at 8 or 10 eggs.
For now she will go her own way. Once a day she will lay an egg.
What climate are you in? Winter is coming and it might get to cold outside now for the young ones...

 

[muskuslove]

It will be a close call then. She hasn`t starting sitting on them . There are not enough eggs yet. So it will be at least september when she starts, then it will be the end of october they will hatch.
Maybe next year you can buy some fertilized eggs... Or are you planning on keeping them inside?

 

[johari]

Oh, I'll probably set up a broody pen inside if it's too cold.

 

[johari]

And there is only a chance that they are fertile. I'm not sure. I should candle the ones she's laid soon.