Egg questions.

[wildflower1228]

I just got back from vacation and went to check on my ducks. I was shocked to find 7 eggs in a little nest. I have two females and three drakes and yes they have been busy with each other. I am not sure which female laid the eggs since neither of them are sitting on the eggs. I was gone for over a week so I don't know when they started to lay them. My sister was watching them but I didn't think they would be laying before we got back so she never checked. So now I don't know what to do with the eggs? Should I candle them or??? I am just lost on what to do since I don't know how long the eggs have been there.Thanks!

 

[thehickchick]

Just candle them... You got nothin to lose and look up a development chart top. Also check to see if the mama comes back. Good luck and happy hatching!!!

 

[Mum]

Welcome wildflower1228

What do you want the eggs for, eating or hatching?

If you want them for eating, they will be fine; if you want them for hatching, candle them and incubate the good ones (in 28 days or so, you will have ducklings if all goes well).

How do your ducks get along? I ask because you have just 2 females but 3 drakes; that will put your girls under a lot of attention from those boys! Which may not be good for them in the long run. Which breed are they?

 

[wildflower1228]

Thanks Thehickchick!
Mum, We plan on eating the eggs but maybe have a couple of ducklings. The drakes are Blue Swedish, Cayuga and a Magpie. My females are a Rouen and another Magpie. They all get along great. They all are attached to each other and never fight. The Blue Swedish is in love with the Rouen. They are always right next to each other. I have only seen him breed with her. The Cayuga only seems to breed with the female Magpie. The male Magpie only breeds with the other Magpie once in a blue moon. I am sure that the males could be breeding with the other females but I haven't seen it.