Rescue ducks started laying

[Michelle Spall]

Hi all, a couple of months ago I rescued 2 female Muscovy ducks from a country road. The rest of the group couldn't be saved. One female had what seemed like and injured leg or hip. Over time she healed but now has a limp. I swapped the other female for a male. Mr & Mrs duck have been settling very well, doing all the right things. Mrs Duck now has 10 eggs in her nest but showing no sign of going broody. I went online to purchase an incubator but due to limited funds, bought a cheap Chinese one.
My questions are
1. How long do I wait for her to go broody before placing all the eggs in the incubator?
2. Do I need to isolate her from others - she has nested in the chicken coop with 2 chooks and 2 rosters and Mr Duck ( happy little bunch has always been locked up at night in same coop).
3. Some days I find her eggs scattered like she pushes them out of the nest, is this normal?
I am very obviously new to the whole duck thing so beginners advice would be much appreciated

 

[Miss Lydia]

Welcome to BYC! and the wonderful world of Muscovy.

I'd say someone is messing with the eggs maybe the chickens? your female scovy needs her own space for laying and hatching. I'd give Mr. and Mrs Duck their own house and pen and once she settles into brooding[and she'll do this once she feels she has enough eggs ]could be 10 could be 20 lol then you'll notice feathers in the nest and her not wanting to come out but 1-2X a day for feed and bath and to do the infamous broody poop. But when hatch day gets close Dad needs to be separated from his mate so she can hatch and bond with her babies with out him interfering some drakes can even injure or kill ducklings. I keep mine from the rest of the flock for up to 2-3 weeks but where everyone can see each other.

 

[Michelle Spall]

Welcome to BYC! and the wonderful world of Muscovy.

I'd say someone is messing with the eggs maybe the chickens? your female scovy needs her own space for laying and hatching. I'd give Mr. and Mrs Duck their own house and pen and once she settles into brooding[and she'll do this once she feels she has enough eggs ]could be 10 could be 20 lol then you'll notice feathers in the nest and her not wanting to come out but 1-2X a day for feed and bath and to do the infamous broody poop. But when hatch day gets close Dad needs to be separated from his mate so she can hatch and bond with her babies with out him interfering some drakes can even injure or kill ducklings. I keep mine from the rest of the flock for up to 2-3 weeks but where everyone can see each other.

Thank you so much for your advise

 

[Michelle Spall]

Clutch size
Mrs Duck is now up to 18 eggs
Feathers now in the nest
She only spends the morning on the nest then out for the rest of the day
I'm anxious already
What am I going to be like around day 30 lol

 

[Michelle Spall]

19 eggs and she has finally gone broody.