Question about separating setting ducks

[chikky]

Last spring, I let the calls set on their eggs. One problem seemed to be that the egg pile kept growing, so there'd be 20+ eggs there. I assume that both ducks kept contributing eggs daily (only one was sitting on them). I attempted to write a date on the eggs, but that meant that I was messing with the nest too often and the dates rubbed off. (She ended up leaving the nest too early and nothing hatched).

Should I separate the setting duck completely until the eggs hatch? This year, I have 4 ducks (and one drake), so I can see that egg pile ending up like a mountain of eggs with a tiny duck sitting on top.

From what I've read, the nest shouldn't be too big or the eggs don't get the proper heat and attention from the duck.

Am I thinking correctly? What do you experienced duck folk do?

Thanks!

 

[purelypoultry]

A duck would not be able to handle that many eggs. Are they actually setting on them? You might try having multiple nests for the multiple ducks.

 

[chikky]

Do you have to separate them so they each have a nest, or do they just know to do that? I swear that they were both laying eggs in the same nest last year. If I make several nest areas, will they each choose one and leave the other alone?

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Yes, ducks are usually quite happy to keep contributing to an established nest. They don't seem to know or care whose eggs are whose.
It really is safest for a number of reasons to separate a broody hen. But don't move the nest or the hen will give up. My best results are when I let a hen go broody and then move the other ducks to other housing.