Muscovies Sharing a Nest

[PittyLova]

Hey there! I'm new to the whole breeding of Muscovies. My girls JUST started laying over the last week. I currently have 7 ducks and 1 drake. I don't believe EVERYBODY is laying yet, but we've got 27 eggs right now and I know it's at least from 3 different girls (and my Delaware pullet decided to drop her first egg in their nest as well).

Is there a way to convince them to use separate nests? If I configure something and move some eggs into it nearby will somebody take over it maybe? I got the Muscovies just to hatch out their eggs so would like as many as possible being set. I'm pretty sure if they keep laying at this rate there will be way too many for just 1 hen to sit on. Any suggestions? I have an incubator but can only fit 12 max in it and would rather not run it if I don't have to. I have it mostly for quail.

Thanks!

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

I suspect ducks really like to share nests. About a week ago I had 3 laying behind the duck house and burying their eggs. I built a nesting box in hope of getting them to lay there instead. First I had no eggs in the box, then one in the box, then two in the box, now there are three in the box and one behind the shelter. I have zero intention of hatching any so I just collect and we eat them.

 

[chickens really]

You can mark the amount you want to hatch with a marker and remove the others and confine her to that area. Never know if she will actually go Broody to set the eggs though.

 

[casportpony]

Mine do this too and they usually end up sitting on all of the eggs together.

 

[PittyLova]

Thanks everybody.

@casportpony Do they generally manage to hatch out the large clutches ok?

 

[casportpony]

Thanks everybody.

@casportpony Do they generally manage to hatch out the large clutches ok?

It really depends on the nest and the hens. Last one I had like that each hen ended up with about 15 eggs and I think the majority hatched. It can get a little chaotic and the risk of hens squishing eggs and ducklings is a problem, so I usually remove hatched ducklings and externally pipped eggs when I see them.