NEW I need a little help

[gmonday]

I have 2 mallards one female one male the female had laid now 34 eggs? is this normal? and will they all hatch. confused everything I look up theres on like 12 or so what do I do

 

[Kevin565]

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That's quite a large clutch. Are you sure that you have a male and female? Hatch rates are hard to predict but most likely not every single one will end up hatching. I would personally take away some of those eggs so it would be easier for her to tend to.

 

[gmonday]

yes for sure there is one male and one female. how do I know which ones to take out? she moves them all the time and I do not know now which was laid first and vis versa,she is in a very exlarge nesting box..

 

[Kevin565]

How long has she been sitting on them?

 

[gmonday]

She don't sit all the time right now she on them in the morning and evening
I read that she will sit 24/7 when she is done but goodness at this rate I don't know when she be done giggle...

 

[Kevin565]

I would try candling the eggs to make sure nothing has started developing in the eggs. I would remove as many eggs as possible. If she hasn't hatched before I honestly wouldn't give her more than 12 eggs. I personally prefer to keep smaller clutch sizes such as 8-10 eggs.

 

[gmonday]

Yes I agree I will try that. but picking up the eggs wont bother her? or disrupt the egg progess

 

[Kevin565]

I've removed eggs before and it's never seem to honestly bother any of my females.

 

[gmonday]

because last time she had a bunch it was in the weather rain I moved them and she abandon them? and then it was like 20 eggs lol I have a egg laying duck

 

[Kevin565]

My guess would be she abandoned it due to the nest being moved not necessarily because eggs were removed. I've never attempted to move a nest before so I'm not honestly sure.