Take or leave the eggs? Advice and Opinions needed!

[mysgyn]

I have a bit of a dilemma and I could use your advice. I've had Cayuga and Pekin in the past, both great layers but not brooding so it was easy to just scoop the eggs.

Now I have two Muscovy. We were unsure of either sex but assumed the bigger to be male and the smaller female. Well, the bigger started laying eggs (they are about 1 1/2 years old) so obviously she is a female. We are fairly sure the other is a female but only because of features/size, etc. so there is a slim possibility she's a male and fertilized eggs.

That all being said. My duck has a nice clutch of 10 eggs. She followed "the book" and layed them one by one and always got down until she had her 10 and has been sitting on them now for about a week, only getting down in the morning when I take out a little feed and refresh their water.

Should we wait, see if anything hatches?
Should we take them from her assuming they are not viable (not to eat, too late for that, but in the future would consider eating)?
Is it more cruel to let her sit on the eggs assuming they aren't fertilized or more cruel to take her eggs from her?

Argh!

I'd love to hear your advice. We love our Muscovy for their weed and insect eating so we are not looking to them to be layers but I also am unsure what, if anything, to do... Thank you in advance!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

You could give it 5 to 7 days amd candle them to see if they are developing. Best of luck to you!

 

[True Patriot]

Candle to see if they're fertile. Do you want her to hatch a brood? If not then the egg taking decision is easy. If you want a brood, check for sources you can get some fertile eggs in case these aren't. Post pics of both, maybe someone can tell sex for you.

 

[chickens really]

Crack open a fresh egg and look for a bullseye or wait 10 days? Candle and see if fertile?..Post pictures of the Ducks?

 

[townchicks]

I don't think it is cruel to let her sit on them if they are not going to hatch, I do that to my doves, all the time, so they don't lay so many eggs. I replace mine with fake eggs, however, because I don't want more doves. I would worry that if the eggs are not fertile, that they will rot, and then break. Yuck! If you want more ducks, great, if you don't, take them away. You may be tempted to hatch, thinking you can find homes for them, but don't assume that to be the case. Be prepared that you may get "stuck" with some or all of them. Then, some of those may be drakes too, and you can be faced with fights, overmateing, etc. Not saying don't do it, just saying think it through to the end.

 

[casportpony]

Now I have two Muscovy. We were unsure of either sex but assumed the bigger to be male and the smaller female. Well, the bigger started laying eggs (they are about 1 1/2 years old) so obviously she is a female. We are fairly sure the other is a female but only because of features/size, etc. so there is a slim possibility she's a male and fertilized eggs.

Can you post pictures of the one you think might be male?

 

[mysgyn]

This happened to be taken today, but it's not full body... I'll have to try to get a full body later?
And I actually believe this is a girl but the fact that I am not 100% leads me to be wonder about the eggs (what if it is a male and the eggs are fertilized). I'll have to look up candling! We don't mind babies, they can do as they wish. But I don't want her just sitting up there for a month when she can be living life wandering around and swimming and such...

She's been brooding for I'd say a week now? She laid 10 eggs and by that 10th day she started staying (and only gets down once in the am when I refresh water and give them some corn or melon)

I'll have to check the candling. And then if they are not fertile just take them away? and then she goes and looks for her eggs and they're gone???? I hate thinking like a human to solve a duck problem ha!

 

[mysgyn]

Yeah, we definitely have thought it through and if they hatch we'll keep them here (and deal with the rest later but are aware of the implications). I am 90% sure they are not fertilized but I just don't know and she seems so good at it, protectively squacking when we come near, moving them and sitting on them so warmly.... I feel sad for her

I don't think it is cruel to let her sit on them if they are not going to hatch, I do that to my doves, all the time, so they don't lay so many eggs. I replace mine with fake eggs, however, because I don't want more doves. I would worry that if the eggs are not fertile, that they will rot, and then break. Yuck! If you want more ducks, great, if you don't, take them away. You may be tempted to hatch, thinking you can find homes for them, but don't assume that to be the case. Be prepared that you may get "stuck" with some or all of them. Then, some of those may be drakes too, and you can be faced with fights, overmateing, etc. Not saying don't do it, just saying think it through to the end.

 

[lomine]

I would try to candle them. At a week you may be able to see some veining but if still unclear wait a few more days and check again. If they are infertile, I would take them away and break her broodiness. Brooding is very hard on the body and I see no reason to let her keep sitting if there is no purpose/no end game.

If they are fertile, letting her sit will be up to you. Seems like you have a plan for the ducklings so that's one problem out of the way. The only other thing I would take into consideration is your weather. If you are in an area that has early winters (assuming you're in the northern hemisphere) you'll want to make sure you are prepared to deal with cold weather. Broodies usually take care of all the heat needs for the ducklings but the little family will probably need a space sheltered from the weather and maybe the other ducks.

 

[townchicks]

If you don't think they are fertile, the best thing would be to take them away and toss them, before they rot and explode. You don't want your girl to be exposed to that. She'll get over it, better than you think. If she still wants to brood, and you don't mind a few more ducks, get some fertile eggs. Maybe some ballut eggs? See @KikisGirls post on ballut egg hatching.