Questions about Call Duck Nestbox and Eggs - Photo

[Scifisarah]

So this is the first season my call ducks have been laying. I put this makeshift kitty litter nestbox in their tractor with a little bit of straw to see if they would be interested, and evidently they got the idea very quickly! I wish I would have done a little more researching first though... Here are my questions:

1) What should I use for bedding on the bottom? I figured not wood shavings because they would eat those but didn't know if straw or carpet or something would be the best alternative. I really need to get something in there quick instead of that dirty straw I stole from the chickens...

2) Is it normal that they don't sit on them at first? They have been laying for maybe 4 days now and don't seem to spend much time in there. I think I remember hearing that they lay as many as they are going to and then sit, so hopefully this is okay.

3) If I have two females, how many eggs will they end up laying and will only one sit on them? I have two females and one male. It seems with the number of eggs that they both have been dropping them off, but so far neither sits on them.

4) If they do start sitting on them, when should I take them out to candle, and is it possible to stress them out by doing that so they don't sit on them anymore?

If you can answer any or ALL of my questions, that would be great!!!

~Sarah in Michigan

 

[Scifisarah]

Still waiting for help with any of these questions please!

 

[chichi56788]

1) The best bedding is probably pinestraw, what they would use in the wild.
2)?
3)?
4) Candling them would be fine. That is a common myth about when you take their eggs

Sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I use straw and hay for bedding. I candle the eggs around 10 days and only candle at night.