Grandma Peking
Hatching
- Mar 29, 2022
- 1
- 3
- 0
I agree with NOT eating eggs laid in water…. Not to sound redundant but because they ARE very porous, the fecal matter that is in the water, will seep inside the egg.
Fertile eggs are FINE to eat as long as you collect your eggs DAILY. You MAY notice a VERY tiny, tiny red “speck” in a fertile egg but it will NOT hurt you!!!
Someone mentioned keeping your ducks in the coop a little longer in the morning so “hopefully” they will lay in the coop ((versus outside in your kiddie pool)).
I keep mine in the coop for “about” 2.5 - 3 hours AFTER sunrise. That seems to be their “magic” time for laying….
I also “make” nests of sorts ((I make a “hollow” bowl shape in the bedding “about” 12” roundish - making sure to leave a couple inches of bedding UNDER the bowl shape so the eggs have a soft cushion under them - having it kinda “heaped up” around the edges)) for them that encourages them to lay inside.
In the warmer months, it’s wood chips. Winter months here, it’s hay on the coop floor as the chips freeze solid!!! Still making a “nest” for them in the hay.
They seem to like to lay in “out of way” places like corners, next to the bales of hay I have in there or behind the barrel totes I keep their feed, etc in.
You mentioned you had 4 females so I would start with 4 nests. More likely then not, they’ll probably share nests. You’ll discover their “favorite” nest!!
I currently have 14 females and they “usually” only use 4 nests…. I still “make up” about 8, as once in a while they change their minds on what nest they want to use…
Every morning when I collect their eggs, I “remake” their nests so it’s ready to go for them the next day!!!
This is our 7th year with our Peking’s and this seems to work really good for us.
Good luck with your GIRLS!!!
Fertile eggs are FINE to eat as long as you collect your eggs DAILY. You MAY notice a VERY tiny, tiny red “speck” in a fertile egg but it will NOT hurt you!!!
Someone mentioned keeping your ducks in the coop a little longer in the morning so “hopefully” they will lay in the coop ((versus outside in your kiddie pool)).
I keep mine in the coop for “about” 2.5 - 3 hours AFTER sunrise. That seems to be their “magic” time for laying….
I also “make” nests of sorts ((I make a “hollow” bowl shape in the bedding “about” 12” roundish - making sure to leave a couple inches of bedding UNDER the bowl shape so the eggs have a soft cushion under them - having it kinda “heaped up” around the edges)) for them that encourages them to lay inside.
In the warmer months, it’s wood chips. Winter months here, it’s hay on the coop floor as the chips freeze solid!!! Still making a “nest” for them in the hay.
They seem to like to lay in “out of way” places like corners, next to the bales of hay I have in there or behind the barrel totes I keep their feed, etc in.
You mentioned you had 4 females so I would start with 4 nests. More likely then not, they’ll probably share nests. You’ll discover their “favorite” nest!!
I currently have 14 females and they “usually” only use 4 nests…. I still “make up” about 8, as once in a while they change their minds on what nest they want to use…
Every morning when I collect their eggs, I “remake” their nests so it’s ready to go for them the next day!!!
This is our 7th year with our Peking’s and this seems to work really good for us.
Good luck with your GIRLS!!!