Sneaky Girl Has a Nest!

[sketto]

So it's my first year raising ducks, and I have a "Rouen" (she was sold to me as a Rouen but I think she's a mallard) female. Today I found her sitting on a nest of four eggs. She had hidden herself in the ivy, and I only really knew she was there because she started hissing at me.
She's not on the nest full-time, as I see her and her beau walking around the yard sometimes.
Should I let her keep sitting on the nest, or should I take the eggs away? If I take them away, are they okay to eat? I don't want to find any surprises in the eggs....
Thanks!

 

[ralph a]

Its up to you if you let here stay on the eggs or not . She maybe getting ready to lay a nest full of eggs . My mallards lay from 12 to 20 eggs before setting . As for egging the eggs you can candle them first . A cheap candler is piece of cardboard with a small whole for the light to shine threw from a bright light in a dark room . But baby ducks do look nice in the yard .

 

[Amiga]

Is she safe? If she's out where predators could get to her, they probably will. I would just make sure she's safe and let her sit. I would not eat the eggs.

Or, you could candle the eggs and look for development and make your decision based on that. But mallards may collect a whole bunch of eggs in the nest before they get really down to business.

Again, Please make sure she's safe.