My duck is covering her eggs with wood shaving but not sitting on them. What does that mean?

[Miss Lydia]

That’s good one day my Runners decided to lay right in the walk way of the coop and the shavings didn’t even look messed with until I stepped on 2 eggs crack. Someone did a good job of hiding them.

I only have 1 hen and one drake. I only just found them this morning and there where 6 in the nest and i collected one 2 days ago so maybe 7 days if she has been laying everyday.

Their getting close to beginning to lose fertility usually around 10 days an beyond fertility is getting compromised. If no one is sitting you might want to let them start over an start marking the eggs with a marker you can put date or just number 1 an up that way you can keep track of fresh and old.

 

[Isaac 0]

Hi! For the last week or so I just thought my duck was only laying an egg every couple days but today I realized she is coving them up with the wood shavings but I don't ever see her sitting on them; she spend her day out in the yard. She is a rouen and sleeps in our chicken coop along with my male peking and 13 chickens. I was hoping someone could tell me what this means.

I agree with others, they will build their clutch up for a few days until they reach around 10 eggs, each time an egg is laid they will cover it with nesting material to prevent unwanted visitors coming and taking them for dinner, take the eggs away or block the nest if you don't want her to hatch.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

Will the eggs be okay in the grassy field? It's fenced in but what if it rains? I just noticed that they were both laying in the field now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd be more worried about predators they climb and fly. Gather the eggs and put them both into the coop give them their own space You can make half teepee by placing a piece of ply wood etc lean it against the wall nail or screw so it doesn't fall on them and let them have this for brooding. Leaving them out even in fencing isn't going to work.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

I'd be more worried about predators they climb and fly. Gather the eggs and put them both into the coop give them their own space You can make half teepee by placing a piece of ply wood etc lean it against the wall nail or screw so it doesn't fall on them and let them have this for brooding. Leaving them out even in fencing isn't going to work.

Okay thank you I also noticed there are 4 each so it's been four days and also there are 3 chicken eggs with one of the nests.

 

[Jmcintosh23]

Okay thank you I also noticed there are 4 each so it's been four days and also there are 3 chicken eggs with one of the nests.

And they didn't cover them I think they are relying on the tall grass as coverage..?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Neither of them are probably through building their clutch what breed do you have? Asking becasue not every breed of domestic duck will brood they may just be laying with no intent on brooding but since your leaving the eggs they just keep laying in this spot. Many breeds have had broodiness bred out of them. I have Muscovy and boy it sure hasn't been bred out of them. But they haven't been messed with by humans like other domestic breeds that come from the Mallard. Try putting the eggs inside their coop and see if that gets them to laying inside instead of out where they are sitting ducks.