Nest hiding

[suburbanduckmom]

I finally found where my Muscovy has hidden her nest. She chose the most remote part of our property that is completely overgrown by thorny bushes. I spied on her from the house to see where she was going. Once she was in there she was completely hidden by the over growth.

Good mama instincts but really inconvenient for me as I want to eat the eggs. How long can eggs be in a nest and still be eaten?

She won't use her box and stopped using her other nesting spot two weeks ago in favor of this more hidden location. How can I encourage her to lay eggs in one place. She has booted out the fake eggs I put in her nesting spot.

I think my duck is too smart for her own good

 

[miss_thenorth]

I'm having the same issue with my scovies. for Easter, we really did do an egg hunt.

the eggs can last a couple weeks and still be good. I left some eggs for the ducks, hoping they would go broody, but so far nothing.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Expiry dates on bought eggs give a shelf life of 30 days- However conditions can be little different if the eggs have been sitting in a nest.

 

[suburbanduckmom]

5 days in the nest for the oldest and they were in the shade. they are not fertile (no drakes). Still good?

I think it is so funny she tosses out the dummy eggs.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
the dummy eggs don't feel right to her! Plastic eggs almost never work with Muscovies, China, glass and wooden ones usually do. I don't know if it is the light weight or the smell of the plastic but I have seen plastic rejected while the duck was accepting golf balls!