How many eggs will a duck lay before setting?

[jessaree]

I was going to clean out my flower bed on Sunday, but to my surprise there was a nest of almost 2 dozen eggs from my mallards. I don't know how many are laying in it, but it keeps growing every day. There is quite a build-up around the eggs, so they are well hidden.

I had found a similar nest next to the fire place with 3 eggs in it, but no more appeared in it.


I'm still trying to decide whether to wait them out or fire up the incubator!

 

[Camelot Farms]

What about taking some and putting in the bator and leaving some for them to brood?

My ducks have brooded clutches of 4 or 5 all the way up to 10 or 12. Smaller clutches when they have their own nest and larger when someone else is adding eggs to their pile...lol

 

[bemba]

My smallest call girl didn't lay till she was nearly 2 but she laid 17 eggs and hatched 16.... True story.... got pics somewhere!

 

[jessaree]

There were over 3 dozen eggs in the nest!