Can I collect some eggs from a clutch and still expect the my Muscovy to incubate the rest

[Nohea Moa]

The title of my thread pretty much says it all.

I'm wondering whether I can collect some of my Muscovy's eggs and expect her to soon begin to incubate the rest, or if taking eggs from a clutch she's still laying could cause her to abandon the nest.

I've never had Muscovy's before. Any good advice will be appreciated!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Its entirely possible. Ducks generally wont start sitting until they have a good number of eggs in the nest- so taking one each day will just keep her laying longer.

To make sure the eggs you collect are the best for incubating- you may want to date each egg the date is is laid- just writing it on with a pencil so you can make sure only the freshest go into your incubator giving them the best chance of hatching.

 

[Nohea Moa]

Thank you Duckyfromaz
I'm not taking them to incubate though.
I'd like to take a few to eat, and then let Lucy (my Muscovy hen) sit on the rest to incubate them when she's ready.
Do you keep any Muscovys?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I dont have any right now- but I have kept them in the past.
If you want eggs for eating the just collect the eggs each day it is laid- and she will continue laying- once you decide you have enough for eating and want her to sit- just stop collecting them. She may lay up to or even more than 20 eggs before she goes broody and starts sitting on them- but most Muscovies are great mothers so there is a really good chance that she will go broody and hatch out some babies for you .

 

[Nohea Moa]

Here's a picture of Lucy and Ricky (Lucy's the one facing the camera)

...And this is Lucy's first clutch of eggs!

 

[Valntyn]

... If you want eggs for eating the just collect the eggs each day it is laid- ...

It was mentioned above for eggs being collected for incubating, but I'll re-mention it for eggs being collected for eating...

If you are collecting eggs daily from a nest that already has eggs in it, make sure to mark the eggs already in the nest. That way, you'll know which are the new eggs to collect -- they won't be marked.

I know this sounds stupidly simple, but with our first time doing this, it took me trying a few different things before I had my "DUH! moment" and just marked the eggs already/staying in the nest.

*chuckle* Happy eating!!

P.S. Nice looking birds! Lucy's pretty!

 

[jdywntr]

Nice birds. When my hen started laying for the first time, I collected the first 1.5 weeks eggs. Usually they are smaller and not as likely to be fertile. Then I let her have at it. I did mark the eggs everyday, she was not thrilled with me gropping under her. I wanted to make sure to leave the newest eggs if she decided to lay a huge amount. She ended up sitting on 14, 11 hatched. Good luck.