12 duck eggs saved from my dogs

[Judy K]

mrs's duck has chosen the worst location for her nest. I had scared her off it for the last week because my dogs were suss to it, let a lone fox or mink. yesterday she must have laid the 12 eggs I found on the nest, just managing to get the duck away from my doggie. I have taken the eggs and are now fumbling in the dark as to what I should do with them, have kept them warm, i know they a
can't be more than 1 day old. help.

[Farplace]

Do you want to hatch them? if so you will need an incubator. Duck eggs take over a month to hatch.
However, if they are not being incubated, and are fairly new, they can be used for culinary purposes.

[IanR]

Are we talking wild duck here if so isn't it illegal to take the eggs.... Your responsibility was to keep your dogs away from the nest. As for fox and mink! well that's life, no doubt the duck will learn and look for a better more hidden nest site.. Now what to with the eggs? eat the evidence...

[Dogghound]

Dont take this the wrong way but were your dogs on a lead? where was the nest? if you just flushed the duck from its nest chances are it would have returned.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by Judy K

... yesterday she must have laid the 12 eggs I found on the nest ... i know they can't be more than 1 day old.

This must be a very unique duck indeed ... perhaps a hybrid with a turtle or maybe a frog?

Most birds, including domesticated breeds of ducks, are normally capable of laying only a single egg per day (more usually every other day) until they have a full clutch.

[Judy K]

Thanks to everyone who replied! I should have made it more clear about the location... I have a very large pond (there is a island and lots of inacessible shubbery areas where the dogs can't get to) on my property of about 70 acres which my main concern is making it wild life friendly. Over the 9 years I have had it, the duck, Morehen, Greeb populations have steadily increased. I'm hoping the harsh winter hasn't taken too great a toll. My dogs are free to go where they want on the property but usually they only walk with me. Had I left the eggs where they were they undoubtably wouldn't have made it, let alone the duck herself, this has never happened to me in the last 9 years. As to the post which said they only lay 1 a day, then she really must be an extraordinary duck because there was definitely no eggs the day before!!!

[Ladywell]

I agree with Valley Forge - there is no way that a single duck has laid 12 eggs in a period of 24 hours - it is just physically impossible - there must be another explanation!

[The Woodman]

The other explanation could be that the duck has taken 12 days to lay the eggs or 6 days if two ducks have been laying in the same nest.

and

Perhaps if you saw the nest with duck away from it, i.e. gone off for feeding, she may well have covered the eggs in nest down to keep them warmer and hide them from predators giving the impression that there were no eggs there.

[Dogghound]

You have come to the right place for advice on wildlife. We have a very good knowledge base on WAB and should be able to help you with most problems. I would advise that you dont allow the dogs to run free during the breeding bird season or you will find a lot of the more vulnerable species dont fare to well.

[Judy K]

Thanks everyone. Woodsman must be right and she had covered the eggs so well, as Kit my dog had stuck her nose in and not come out with anything i assumed there were no eggs. I feel very sad about the whole episode and look forward to a mre positive spring.