Found 8 Eggs under tarp

[guthrieszoo]

I keep a tarp over a bale of straw next to the coop and secure it with a chair on one end and a rock on the other so the ducks and chickens can't get under it. Yesterday I uncovered the straw to add a little more in the coop and left it uncovered for the most part (except for about a third) to dry out some damp. Today I was out in the chicken yard and the 2 ducks that were just given to me about 2-3 weeks ago were really interested in the exposed bale. I flipped the tarp back and found 8 duck eggs (and a chicken egg) under the edge of the tarp. But the eggs were about a foot away from the bale and I have always walked very close to the bale so did all of the ducks lay these eggs? Did my regular "laying" duck do it and did they have them hidden somewhere and move them during the night? I am not sure how old they are so am thinking I should just compost them or if they don't smell bad, I could feed them to my dogs. This is just weird. This is my first year with chickens so I am sure this is just the beginning.

 

[Free Feather]

Does the duck hen want to set them?
At most, how old could they be?
I would give them to the dogs if you want rid of them.

 

[guthrieszoo]

Well, I ended up testing them and none of them floated so they were added to my refrigerator collection. Now I just need to have time to bake so I can use them. I have a feeling my youngest duck may have been laying them and hiding them as she usually lays an egg a day and hasn't laid for a week. So now I know to search a little bit when I don't find one of her eggs. LOL!