[NicandChic]

My 2 were happy to sit on one egg each in the same box together, fluffed up and sitting tight. I remove the eggs each morning, I had to physically move them out the barn to get the egg and shut the door to stop them returning. All the best Bionic.

[Bionic]

Well, all 6 eggs had disappeared by the time I went to put the ducks to bed last night. There were just a couple of shells remaining and the ducks devoured them very quickly.


I have no idea what got to them but don't think it's anything like rats. I have never seen a trace of them anywhere and I watch the duck house a lot.


Today I am going to start removing eggs again. Looks like I might need to get an incubator after all.

[NicandChic]

Oh no, that's a shame.

We didn't have any signs of rats no droppings, no smell, no sightings...until we lost a pet baby rabbit in one of our barns, another had a bite wound on the back of its neck - she survived thankfully.

We were thinking rat, stoat etc what ever got in our barn could squeeze through very small spaces yet kill and drag quite a large rabbit (the body of the wee bunny got stuck under a door after being dragged through 2 rooms)

[MAK]

That is a shame.
It may be that different breeds behave differently.
We have muscovey ducks that have been laying for weeks.I hope the following helps.
If we take their eggs away then after 2-3 days they lay their eggs in a different place.
If we leave their eggs then our 3 ladies seem to lay itheir eggs n the same place - no egg loss.
We have returned eggs ( marked with a pencil) and more eggs were added.

one mum started to sit on 18 eggs a month ago but we removed 4  ( thinking 14 is a more reasonable number). Ducklings due soon.

the other 2 ducks continure to lay eggs and the clutch being sat on are probabley a mix of eggs from all mums.

Muscovey mums seem to do Ok and the our hatch rate is about variable at about 80%  for a clutch of 14 plus. largest number of ducklings was 12

I hope our experience is of use.

[Steph Hen]

 had a bite wound on the back of its neck - she survived thankfully.

yet kill and drag quite a large rabbit (the body of the wee bunny got stuck under a door after being dragged through 2 rooms)

Would agree stoat.