Ducks only sitting on eggs in shifts.

[kuntrygirl]

Two of my muscovy girls have layed eggs (13 in one nest) & (8 in another nest). The only problem is that they only sit on their eggs in the evening. Their "sitting shift" starts about 7pm and ends at 7am. I have NEVER seen anything like this before. The temps here in Louisiana have been as high as the 70's, so it's pretty warm during the daytime but I am concerned that the eggs won't hatch because they are only on their eggs for 12 hours a day. Has anyone else ever seen this? Is this normal? What do you think the chances of the eggs hatching? What do you suggest I do? Why are the ducks doing this?

 

[Trenary Ducks]

Are you sure they are not really just standing over the eggs at night? This is done by a muscovy to keep the eggs from getting too chilled at night before they decide to sit 24/7. In other words, it sounds like normal behavior for a muscovy.

changed 27/7 to 24/7

 

[dumb_cluck]

My Mallard laid in late January. (Heated garage). She never sat on them, but kicked them around instead. I placed them in a clutch, but she still ignored them. (This was her first eggs) All 5 never hatched.

Again she laid in mid March. This time 6 eggs. This time she made a nest from straw. This time I have caught her standing over and sitting on them. Perhaps a learning curve???

BTW it's about 50 degrees in the garage.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I know for certain they are sitting/sleeping on the nest of eggs. Each day I see more and more feathers around the nest. They have built a very nice nest with tall sides. You're probably right in that they are keeping the eggs warm at night from getting chilled. I'm not a duck expert when it comes to ducks laying and sitting on eggs. I wonder how long they will do this before they sit 24/7.

 

[lovesduckies]

my scovy girl has laid one egg every morning. she has 15 and she's not sitting on them. she will sit in her nesting box for about 1-3 hours and get out to play with her husband. i've been told they won't lay on them till they have a full clutch. i've made her 2 nests now and she arranges them in her own little way. she has then grouped up. there is a group of 4 in the front of the box, a group of 9 now in the middle and then 2 in the back. i don't get it, but i let her be.

good luck

i'm sure they will start laying soon. i hope my girl does!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
that's interesting the way she has them grouped. i wonder what ducks consider a "full clutch". if we could only know what they were thinking huh?

 

[lovesduckies]

she is a werid little one. i thought it was for counting purposes HAHAHA. uhm i think when they have no more eggs to lay?? then will lay on them at the same time so they all hatch together. idk. but she needs to start sitting on them soon!!!!! i am going to vegas the weekend of may 8th and i want to be around for my first ducklings to hatch!!!!!!! i tell her everyday to go lay on her kids. she doesn't listen

she's spoiled rotten!!!

 

[keeperofthehearth]

When they are ready to brood, they will. If you are starting to see feathers being added to the nest then they are getting ready to brood. Even when they begin brooding, sometimes the first day they will brood only half the day. This is normal Scovy behavoir. They know what they are doing. They generally like to have 12-20 eggs in a nest.

 

[L0rraine]

My Runners were a bit like this with their current batch. Seemed like for the first 3-5 days they were off the nest more than on. I was so anxious to candle to see if any might hatch, but when I finally candled yesterday morning (day 12-13?) they were all looking pretty viable. Though I'm a little bit worried, because I think 'extra' eggs were laid in the nest for 4-5 days after my first one started sitting on them. When the second duck started trying to share the nest with the first (it was pretty cute I should have gotten a picture), I brought in a second nest box and split up the eggs -- AND THEN I REALLY THOUGHT I MESSED THINGS UP as they both still wanted to sit in the same nest (I don't know why I'm forever messing with Mother Nature). Anyway, after I candled, I put the eggs that looked less far along all in the same nest (more messing w/MN) -- what am I going to do with me ...

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
This weekend was when I noticed an increased amount of feathers.