Questions About Duck Laying Habits

[OldGuy43]

OldGal asked me and I didn't know...

Do ducks normally share a nest in the wild? Our Khaki Campbells do.

That got me to thinking. Sometimes we find an egg in the pool. The dogs do enjoy it when that happens.

Ducks don't seem to have as much control over when they lay. We frequently find one out in the open in the run. Normal?

Do ducks go broody? I may have one that is doing so.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

On sharing nests, they do it here, but I dunno about the wild. Eggs in run, perfectly normal for here. And broody? Of course!

 

[FatBottomGirls]

I have no idea where my duck is laying her eggs. I've found a few in the pen, but now that's warming up some, they aren't sleeping in their pen anymore. They spend the night on the pond & mid-morning she disappears for awhile, I assume she's laying an egg during her MIA time. **** if I can figure out where though! She's pretty small so I think she's squeezing behind the round bales in the barn. I guess I'll find out eventually!! Makes me sad because I want to eat the eggs!

 

[OldGuy43]

I have no idea where my duck is laying her eggs. I've found a few in the pen, but now that's warming up some, they aren't sleeping in their pen anymore. They spend the night on the pond & mid-morning she disappears for awhile, I assume she's laying an egg during her MIA time. **** if I can figure out where though! She's pretty small so I think she's squeezing behind the round bales in the barn. I guess I'll find out eventually!! Makes me sad because I want to eat the eggs!

FYI, they will cover them up. Try moving the litter around.

 

[OldGuy43]

How long will she brood and is it normal for them to change colors (much lighter) when doing so?

 

[FatBottomGirls]

She isn't laying in the pen...

 

[Going Quackers]

The sharing nest thing i believe would be a domestic duck thing. Could be wrong but i just don't see that happening in the wild, the results even with domestic is not that good IME.

When ducks first begin to lay, they tend to lay all over.. pools, the middle of the yard etc, i have found as they mature that doesn't happen. Although, i am sure there are some out there who never do get a 'place'.

As for broodiness, depends on the breed some simply don't with the rare exception, others are noted for it. My Muscovy are known for it, i just had a clutch hatch 3wks ago come this wed/thurs.. this isn't our first go round with my ducks hatching out babies, it's basically a yearly thing, for myself it's more how to keep them from being broody

 

[destinduck]

They will sometimes share nest in the wild. But it is not common. It happens mainly with the wood ducks on the same species. A coupla hens may use the same tree nest or box if provided if nest holes are hard to come by. Redheads are about the most notorious for using another species nest in which to lay their eggs and letting the unsuspecting hen raise the redhead babies along with her own. It is funny how every once in a while they(ducks) will lay an egg in the pools or pond. I think they do it because they are having a problem getting it out.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Oldguy43: well, your duck mom will incubate her eggs -about 28 days, then she will continue to brood any successful hatchlings. That is, if she chooses to stick with it. Go on over to the Old Fashioned Broody Duck Thread and do some reading if you are so inclined. And oh yes, expect to see some changes in feathering. My brown Khaki Campbell lightens up a lot when she goes broody, and she walks around squawking and looking all ruffled all the time.

How long will she brood and is it normal for them to change colors (much lighter) when doing so?

 

[wardrip30816]

We have mallard ducks and we let them roam during the day and we lock them up at night, they r laying eggs in their pen and we want to know when they lay their eggs should we leave the hens locked up until they hatch? Will they both set on the same nest, they have 2 nests made but only finding eggs in 1 nest.