Nesting boxes

[Quacking Pigeon]

Hello, I was wondering what nesting set up has a higher hatch rate. At the moment the ducks just nest in straw in nestboxes, and the hatch rate is very low. From 17 eggs only 3 hatch, and they die. I’ve been thinking about adding soil to the nest boxes, as that will keep the humidity more stable. With the soil thing, one of my white muscovies a year of more ago nested out in the garden, and every egg except for 2 or 3 hatched and the ducklings survived.

What do you guys recommend?

 

[Isaac 0]

Ducks should have a dry/clean/soft nesting box area, don't think I would use dirt.