Mating/ Laying Eggs

[eliz_anne]

Hi everyone!
This is my first go at ducks and having duck eggs. Last week, one of my female mallards flew away for a few days but has since returned. Upon her return, the male ducks began mating with her. Something that has not happened before. Today i went out to do my daily cleaning of their duck house and came across an egg! Is there any advice on what I should do next? Do they need anything special to make a nest, should I use different food? Also, should I leave the egg there or take it out? Any bit of information would be extremely helpful! : )

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

hi, i would not let them hatch any babies. please wait until they are around one year old to avoid all the issues the ducklings could have if hatched out now.

 

[Lovem all]

Well, do you want to eat it or have more ducks?

 

[britesidefarm]

If you are wanting to hatch the eggs, you can’t make her go broody. If she does go broody, you leave her to sit on the eggs and make sure she gets plenty of food and water. There isn’t any other kind of food that she will need.

 

[eliz_anne]

I am not looking to have more ducks at this point. If anything, my family will be eating the eggs. The ducks are around 5 months old. I thought maybe there would be more time before laying eggs. I was caught completely off guard.

 

[eliz_anne]

This is the egg I saw this morning. Would this be a mallard egg?

 

[britesidefarm]

If you didn’t expect the eggs, start feeding layer crumble

 

[eliz_anne]

If you didn’t expect the eggs, start feeding layer crumble

Ok thank you I will get some today!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Yes looks mallard. It will be delicious. Don't feed layer of you have drakes. Just make sure they have some oyster shell on the side.

 

[Miss Lydia]

All flock is a good choice with free choice oyster shell for your female in a separate container. Take up eggs daily to eat an bake with.