First Egg!!!

[Amiga]

WOOOOT!

 

[ZakoHero]

Are you going to incubate the eggs or just eat them?

 

[melissamerry]

Thanks everybody! We got a whopping TWO this morning.
So I think both are laying now!

Are you going to incubate the eggs or just eat them?

I read that the first time they start laying its best to wait before trying to hatch because they usually aren't the prime candidates.

Besides, our little one bedroom apartment with a tiny patio probably won't work for more than 3 ducks. I'm currently looking for a new place to live with a backyard so I can build them a real pen with more room to roam (I tried to bring home another duck but the bf caught me and put his foot down).

I think I'll let mama duck hatch them then, if they go broody, which I think is a high probability soon. I found Baby Jake's hole that she dug in the corner of our patio. She lays in it while the other two rascals swim and chase bugs. However, I don't think I have the heart to take eggs away from a hopeful mama duck...so I might hide her nest from the bf

So for now, we're going to eat the eggs and give them away to the neighbors to appease them.

 

[Carcajou]

Pretty ducks! And congrats on the eggs!

 

[melissamerry]

How do I know for sure that she's gone broody? I've done some reading but I'm not sure I understand yet.

I read that ducks will wait til they've laid enough to sit on, so If i keep taking them every morning will they never become broody? Or would one try to
stop me from taking them as sign that she's broody?.



She sits in this hole that she dug all the way in this corner that's really hard to get to. There's no eggs in it. Last night when I brought her inside,
she was flipping out! She was running around doing backflips and acting quite terrified. The other two ducks were laying down but she would not stop.
I eventually had to pick her up and cradle her until she relaxed. Is it possible that she was freaking out because she was away from her "nest"?

She even woke me up earlier than normal today begging like crazy to go outside. She ran straight to her hole. She even skipped her bath!

 

[jdywntr]

If you keep taking her eggs, then no she won't go broody, most likely. If you want her to, you need to leave them. If her "nest" is not in a protected area then you do not want her laying there. Make her a similar looking nest in a nice safe, preferably darker area. Put an egg, a golf ball something in it. Taking eggs everyday before they learn the nest makes them think that where they laid the egg yesterday isn't safe because the egg is gone. Them they go looking for a safer place.

 

[melissamerry]

They don't lay their eggs in their "nests" though. They sleep inside in a rubbermaid house I made for them. They lay them there, even though I have been taking them every morning. Then they go outside. So you're saying if I leave the eggs, she will sit on them?

 

[ZakoHero]

They don't lay their eggs in their "nests" though. They sleep inside in a rubbermaid house I made for them. They lay them there, even though I have been taking them every morning. Then they go outside. So you're saying if I leave the eggs, she will sit on them?

Most likely

 

[ZakoHero]

And if true you will get cute little ducklings very soon

 

[fowl farm]

How do I know for sure that she's gone broody? I've done some reading but I'm not sure I understand yet.


She sits in this hole that she dug all the way in this corner that's really hard to get to. There's no eggs in it. Last night when I brought her inside,
she was flipping out! She was running around doing backflips and acting quite terrified. The other two ducks were laying down but she would not stop.
I eventually had to pick her up and cradle her until she relaxed. Is it possible that she was freaking out because she was away from her "nest"?

She even woke me up earlier than normal today begging like crazy to go outside. She ran straight to her hole. She even skipped her bath!

She probably woke you up early since her nest is outside and she had to go!!(so to speak It's possible her egg laying was off and you disturbed her in the process or something when you brought her in. Not sure.