How to handle nests?

[ThePurpleMoose]

I’m not really sure what my question is here. We have 5 female ducks. They refuse to use their shelter and lay their eggs wherever they please. They just started laying again after a break this winter and we currently have 2 nests in a wooded area of their run. I don’t ever see them lay on the nests. If I collect the eggs they just start laying in a new nest which I then have to find. Should I just let them continue to lay in the nests? At what point should I expect them that start laying on the eggs? I’m not eating the eggs since I’m not sure how long some of them have been there.

Additionally, any suggestions on how to get them to lay consistently in one spot?

 

[Jenbirdee]

I noticed if I don’t let them out as early they lay them in their coop. I used to let my ducks out at the crack of dawn, but now I wait 30 minutes and the eggs are all laid occasionally there’s a late bird who comes back and lays one after.
Also if you place a couple of fake eggs where you want them to lay it helps.

 

[ThePurpleMoose]

I noticed if I don’t let them out as early they lay them in their coop. I used to let my ducks out at the crack of dawn, but now I wait 30 minutes and the eggs are all laid occasionally there’s a late bird who comes back and lays one after.
Also if you place a couple of fake eggs where you want them to lay it helps.

I can’t even get them to go into their shelter! They are super skittish and run from us. Which is surprising since they were handled by my daughter a lot when we got them as ducklings. The only times we can get them to go inside is if we chase them which is just not reasonable to do everyday and I think makes them more skeptical of us.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Ducks typically need to be taught to use their coop with food as a reward. Some will come to enjoy the coop, like my ducks have, and may eventually return on their own & put themselves to bed.

It’s common for ducks to become a bit distant as adults, but you can help reduce skittishness by hanging out nearby more and hand-feeding them. I’ve taught them the words “food” and “treat,” and that if I’m sitting down, I will not bother them. My ducks come when called and mosey about me with minimal fear.

My ducks also move their nests if I take all their eggs. I agree with using fake eggs to show them where to lay.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I can’t even get them to go into their shelter! They are super skittish and run from us. Which is surprising since they were handled by my daughter a lot when we got them as ducklings. The only times we can get them to go inside is if we chase them which is just not reasonable to do everyday and I think makes them more skeptical of us.

Can you entice them into the shelter using mealworms or their favorite treat? Do they have a run? It is easy for me if I can get my ducks into the run, then get them into their duck house. But, I've trained them. I put mealworms in a container, shake the container, and call, "duck, duck". They come running. If you have a run or penned area, I'd start training there before doing it out in the open.

Another way to round them up is using two sticks, you guide them in using the sticks. Look at videos on YouTube. I use a stick and a broom. They really don't like the broom. Or at night you can use a flashlight. They don't like the light. I don't know why, but that's ducks for you.

For them to be out in the open, they are essentially "sitting ducks" and eventually a predator will find them. Predators can come any time of the day of course, but at night the ducks wouldn't be able to see them as well and we know that domestic ducks have no defenses.

As far as the egg laying, I agree that they have to be locked into their shelter for a little longer in the morning.