I have a few questions - anyone fancy a challenge? :)

[Duck Lover88]

You’ll have to be kind to me as I have never had ducks before and from prior reading on the Internet I thought it was standard protocol to put the ducklings in a brooder and take them indoors for 3-4weeks. Obviously I’ve misunderstood the information or missed out a key part. That is why I have been asking about a brooder and why I asked these questions now I know I don’t have to have one and they can stay with the mother that Is better for all.

Oh it is fine that is what this site is for!! learning more and making sure that your taking good care of the animals you have right now

 

[GracieJ]

1). Can you eat a duck's eggs even if it is fertile?
Definitely. Otherwise, we would not have roosters.

2). How often does a female duck/hen lay eggs after sitting on her last clutch? Is it straight away? Two weeks later?
That depends on body condition and how distracted she is by the ducklings. Mine usually start laying again within a month, but it usually takes longer than two weeks

3). My hard-working hen took a rest from sitting on her clutch today and I found one poor egg cracked and open on the floor not far from the nest, is it possible she either rolled it out whilst getting out of the nest or did she kick it out? I checked it and it wasn't viable anyway (at least I don't think so).
People will tell you that birds can find the bad egg and will get rid of it. In my experience, this is simply not true. She probably accidentally rolled it out.

4). Do I need to buy a brooder or can I use a plastic storage box?
Do you plan on separating them from mum? Then you need a brooder of some sort. A plastic storage bin will work well, and is far easier to clean than the cardboard boxes I may or may not be guilty of using.

5). Do ducklings need a heat lamp if they are indoors? Or would they be okay if they had one side of their brooder next to a radiator (that was the right temperature of course) and the other side to get away from it?
I wouldn't put plastic that near a radiator. You can use a heatlamp, and I would recommend buying one, to put up if you do start having problems. Ducklings don't need as much heat as chicks. I have raised ducklings outside in a chicken-wire run when it was in the mid-seventies outside, with no supplemental heat whatsoever during the day.

6). Is it safe after this clutch to take the eggs she lays every day? Or will she keep laying till she has another clutch?
Depends on duck and breed of duck. Generally, they take a lot of time to recover first. Muscovies will start gathering again almost immediately; mallards set twice a year.

7). Candling - does a clear yellow egg at day 10 mean it is not viable (I think I know the answer to this but I don't want to admit it)? Also, a couple of eggs have one side an orangey colour and the other side like a black cloud/shadow with an air sac, are these viable? I can see all the egg sacs clearly which is absolutely fascinating!
Check this out. It's for chicken eggs, but it's highly informative. And yes, clear eggs have not developed. You can eat them, if they don't float in water.

8) Two eggs have cracks in them but no fluid leaking, is this okay?
Wipe the cracks with a mild alcohol solution and tape the cracks (not the entire egg, just the cracks). It's an entry point for bacteria, and I doubt those ones will make it. Hope springs eternal, of course.

Thank you for your amazingly detailed reply! You’ve helped me fill in some gaps in my knowledge that’s for sure! We all have to start somewhere and learn and gain more knowledge on the animals we love and things we love. I assumed having a brooder was standard protocol but as one member pointed out they can stay with the mother thank you again!

 

[chickens really]

You’ll have to be kind to me as I have never had ducks before and from prior reading on the Internet I thought it was standard protocol to put the ducklings in a brooder and take them indoors for 3-4weeks. Obviously I’ve misunderstood the information or missed out a key part. That is why I have been asking about a brooder and why I asked these questions now I know I don’t have to have one and they can stay with the mother that Is better for all.

I am being kind..
Mommas do a better job than we can do.

 

[GracieJ]

Oh it is fine that is what this site is for!! learning more and making sure that your taking good care of the animals you have right now

Exactly! It’s a brillant site. I should have joined it months ago haha!

 

[GracieJ]

I am being kind..
Mommas do a better job than we can do.

They sure do!

 

[aart]

You can also make a heat source using a heating pad - @aart

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate.67729/

 

[WVduckchick]

following...

 

[sourland]

I am being kind..
Mommas do a better job than we can do.

And it is so much easier to let them do all of the work.

 

[Ravynscroft]

They sure do!

Usually, yes they do... and Calls have a higher chance of being great mamas... however, be prepared just in case everything doesn't go smoothly... first time mamas don't always do well, @shawluvsbirds had one that needed just a bit of support and help... and some may abandon before hatching, just fyi... but most Calls sit, hatch and raise their broods well...

She won't lay again until she decides the babies are big enough/old enough to be on their own... for some this is a couple months after hatching and some take longer... whether she will sit again this year is up to her... I have had Calls sit 3 or 4 times in a year, others just once...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Usually, yes they do... and Calls have a higher chance of being great mamas... however, be prepared just in case everything doesn't go smoothly... first time mamas don't always do well, @shawluvsbirds had one that needed just a bit of support and help... and some may abandon before hatching, just fyi... but most Calls sit, hatch and raise their broods well...

She won't lay again until she decides the babies are big enough/old enough to be on their own... for some this is a couple months after hatching and some take longer... whether she will sit again this year is up to her... I have had Calls sit 3 or 4 times in a year, others just once...

Yep. And I'm still grateful for your advice talking me through at 3 am.

I think it's a good idea to have some brooder supplies on hand just in case. My duck turned out to be a good momma but I ended up placing her along with her ducklings in the brooder for the first night because one little guy kept getting out of the nest and she couldn't keep him warm. It was chilly and rainy outside.