Newbie duck owner

[catschicks16]

I have a pair of ducks that I got July 13,2016. Didn't have any feathers yet so not sure how old they are or if hatched from the same momma duck. But anyways the female has been laying eggs a couple months or so now. She lays one a day and I've been collecting for eating. How will I know if she's laying fertile eggs that I could leave in the nest to hatch out?

 

[BBCHICKS123]

There is no sure way to tell for sure but if you see her drake breeding them than they are probably fertile you might just have to try it

 

[Adalida]

Unless she goes broody, or you have another broody hen, they won't hatch if they're just left on the nest, even if they are fertilized.

 

[TLWR]

Crack open an egg and look for signs of it being fertile.
It should like this one
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/668459/how-to-tell-if-freshly-laid-eggs-are-fertile#post_9023885

Even if you leave them in the nest, your duck may not go broody, so if you want ducklings, you might need to incubate them yourself.

 

[catschicks16]

If she is broody will she only lay one egg a day or will she lay more than that?

 

[TLWR]

ducks lay an egg a day - some might pop out 2 a day, but their system takes about 24 hours to develop and pop out an egg.
If she's broody, she'll likely stop laying.

 

[chickens really]

Also has your Drake been breeding her lots?.......Then you will get fertile eggs..........



Cheers!

 

[catschicks16]

I haven't seen them mate. I just didn't know if she was broody would she lay one a day and staying sitting on them till she lays the amount she's gonna lay. Then stay sitting on those eggs till they hatch. I've never owned ducks and I've been trying to research but kinda confused on the process of laying to hatch ducklings.

 

[chickens really]

What a Hen does is lay a bunch of eggs in a nest until she is ready to set....Then she will sit on the eggs till they hatch...Some never go broody....


Cheers!