Well, I had a surprise waiting for me this morning when I went to let "my girls" out of their stall this morning...
AN EGG!
I ASSUME that it is a regular infertile egg. I picked it up and put it in the refrigerator... I THINK that is what I am supposed to do....?
I have 3 mallard hens. They are just ovre 5 months old. I wasn't expecting eggs so soon. So far there are 2 eggs and I am not even sure which one of the girls is doing the laying.
After I saw the egg I put a few buckets in their stall and filled them with hay... It was in "impronptu" approach since I had not planned ahead.
As my ducks are only just over 5 months old, I am still a "new egg" to this whole thing too. So, I have a few questions and would very much appreciate any help!
1. How long does it usually take the mallard hens to lay the full clutch?
2. Do I just pick up the eggs and put them in the refrigerator like I did with the 2 eggs from today?
3. Where are they supposed to lay? Do I leave their stall door open during the day in case they want to fly back to the barn to lay an egg, or do I put some sort of "nesting area" up here at the house?
4. Since the ducks are mallards and are free to roam and do not have clipped wings, should I candle the eggs to make sure the eggs are unfiertile?
5. Is it okay to eat the eggs????
6. WHAT DO I DO???
7. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS/WEEKS....??????????
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AN EGG!
I ASSUME that it is a regular infertile egg. I picked it up and put it in the refrigerator... I THINK that is what I am supposed to do....?
I have 3 mallard hens. They are just ovre 5 months old. I wasn't expecting eggs so soon. So far there are 2 eggs and I am not even sure which one of the girls is doing the laying.
After I saw the egg I put a few buckets in their stall and filled them with hay... It was in "impronptu" approach since I had not planned ahead.
As my ducks are only just over 5 months old, I am still a "new egg" to this whole thing too. So, I have a few questions and would very much appreciate any help!
1. How long does it usually take the mallard hens to lay the full clutch?
2. Do I just pick up the eggs and put them in the refrigerator like I did with the 2 eggs from today?
3. Where are they supposed to lay? Do I leave their stall door open during the day in case they want to fly back to the barn to lay an egg, or do I put some sort of "nesting area" up here at the house?
4. Since the ducks are mallards and are free to roam and do not have clipped wings, should I candle the eggs to make sure the eggs are unfiertile?
5. Is it okay to eat the eggs????
6. WHAT DO I DO???
7. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO HAPPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS/WEEKS....??????????
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
