Help! I have an egg!

[MSUredneck]

I came home today to find my buff/runner couple had finally laid their first egg. They are both young, around 7 months or so. She laid it in the nest, but neither her or my drake want anything to do with it. My drake steps on it and doesn't seem to want the female anywhere near it. Should I remove it from the nest or leave it up to them? Is it even possible to care for the egg so it will hatch with them being so young? I don't know what to do, these are the first ducks I've ever owned. Help!

 

[aoxa]

If you want it to hatch, leave it up to them or get an incubator. I wouldn't incubate a first egg, but that depends on how large it is. If it is small - I would eat it.

Your girl won't try to set on the egg until she lays a clutch, and even then, she may not want to set.

Take a breath and celebrate your first duck egg!

 

[Amiga]

Isn't it thrilling to see that first egg?

From what I have learned on the forum, it is actually best for you to take the first several eggs and eat them. They tend not to be viable.

Also, domestic ducks may or may not have the broody instinct that gets them to sit on eggs.

Your girl may just be too young, or she may not have the knack. We won't know for a while.

Also, in our hemisphere, it's late in the season and she might not get broody until next spring.

That should give you time to read the posts on the Duck Forum about hatching, so you will have a better feel for how it can go.

 

[MSUredneck]

Thanks guys. I'm going to read through the forums and see what else I can find. I can't eat it,, but I don't want to remove it in case it is a viable egg. How do you know if it is or not?

 

[aoxa]

Thanks guys. I'm going to read through the forums and see what else I can find. I can't eat it,, but I don't want to remove it in case it is a viable egg. How do you know if it is or not?

You crack it open or candle it when it has been incubated for a week.

You won't want to incubate every egg they lay. I think it's best to remove the egg. Just my two cents.

 

[nickie]

You don't know its viable until it hatches. You can crack it to see if its fertilized, but that's about it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I came home today to find my buff/runner couple had finally laid their first egg. They are both young, around 7 months or so. She laid it in the nest, but neither her or my drake want anything to do with it. My drake steps on it and doesn't seem to want the female anywhere near it. Should I remove it from the nest or leave it up to them? Is it even possible to care for the egg so it will hatch with them being so young? I don't know what to do, these are the first ducks I've ever owned. Help!

Congrats on your first egg, enjoy! and