Is there any way to tell which duck laid an egg?

[DuckyDonna]

Not anything to worry about. As long as the eggs are coming out that's a great thing..

thanks, I guess I'm just a worry wart!

 

[Fishkeeper]

Younger birds can also lay fairy eggs.
If it's an egg that's small but fully developed, i.e. has a yolk and all the parts, that's a pullet egg. You get those only in young birds.
If it's a egg that's small and doesn't have a yolk, that's a fairy egg. Those happen in birds that are just starting to lay, and also in older birds. Young birds may also lay shell-less eggs, or eggs that are otherwise not formed properly, as their egg factory gets up and running. That's generally not a bad sign, it just means they're still calibrating things. Eggs are kinda complicated to make from scratch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you really wanting to see who is laying put the food coloring around the outside of the vent and keep them out of water till the next day after they have laid. Not inside.

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you really wanting to see who is laying put the food coloring around the outside of the vent and keep them out of water till the next day after they have laid. Not inside.

thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

So what did you find out? @DuckyDonna

 

[DuckyDonna]

So what did you find out? @DuckyDonna

nothing, it's been so rainy and cold I haven't wanted to get out there and sit with the girls. It supposed to be good tomorrow so maybe I'll got out armed with a fresh bottle of food coloring and see what happens

 

[Miss Lydia]

I saw when a member did this and the egg was so pretty when it was laid

 

[DuckyDonna]

I saw when a member did this and the egg was so pretty when it was laid

so, just to be clear. I just need to put the food coloring "around" the vent right? Not in it?

 

[Loopeend]

You can see who needs to lay an egg; they have a bulge between their leggs. But this is only a few hours before it lays.
They will act nervous, can't seem to lay down, try to, stand up again, maybe move some straw back and forth, and make a weird scratching noise with their legs when actually laying.

You can also feel it; you can feel who's hips are wider. This is a method that is learned to me; you can indeed feel it... but I don't feel okay with this method. Since there are other methods...

You can tell by the colour of the eggs. Depending what colour your ducks are. Not 100% proof, but it gives an indicator. Bigger ducks give bigger eggs; again not a 100% proof thing, but it gives an indicator.

You can buy night sheds, for each duck seperatly, that you open after they have laid an egg. Also not a thing I like to do.

I also don't like the colouring-stuff method.

Are they inclosed at night? If not; ducks are not like chickens. They can poop their egg out anywhere. They are not so roost-bound. Maybe they all have laid; you just haven't found them. Especially indian runner ducks. It's easter everyday.

For the rest; watch them a lot and have patience. They tend to do it at night/morning. don't know if your up that early/late. But around midnight I can see who has the bump or not bteween their leggs. And they lay between 04.00 and 07.00. But you can allways clearly see it.

And otherwise; hang up a camera

 

[DuckyDonna]

You can see who needs to lay an egg; they have a bulge between their leggs. But this is only a few hours before it lays.
They will act nervous, can't seem to lay down, try to, stand up again, maybe move some straw back and forth, and make a weird scratching noise with their legs when actually laying.

You can also feel it; you can feel who's hips are wider. This is a method that is learned to me; you can indeed feel it... but I don't feel okay with this method. Since there are other methods...

You can tell by the colour of the eggs. Depending what colour your ducks are. Not 100% proof, but it gives an indicator. Bigger ducks give bigger eggs; again not a 100% proof thing, but it gives an indicator.

You can buy night sheds, for each duck seperatly, that you open after they have laid an egg. Also not a thing I like to do.

I also don't like the colouring-stuff method.

Are they inclosed at night? If not; ducks are not like chickens. They can poop their egg out anywhere. They are not so roost-bound. Maybe they all have laid; you just haven't found them. Especially indian runner ducks. It's easter everyday.

For the rest; watch them a lot and have patience. They tend to do it at night/morning. don't know if your up that early/late. But around midnight I can see who has the bump or not bteween their leggs. And they lay between 04.00 and 07.00. But you can allways clearly see it.

And otherwise; hang up a camera

Thank you for your advice. You have a lot of knowledge for sure! I will try to do what you say.