Moving duck eggs safetly

[miabaker]

I have a pair of white mallards and they have laid their first eggs. How can I, or would I be causing damage to them if I moved all the eggs to a new location? I want them out of reach of my dogs. Also how long does she need to sit on them everyday to make them viable? One last question, how long till they hatch? (can you tell I am new at this!)

[faz]

hi welcome to WAB why move the eggs? if you do need to then move them very carefully. they can lay between 8 and 16 eggs 12 is normal. About a month to sit the eggs and around 50-65 days for young to fledge its the wrong time of year to start to breed mallards end of april/march is the start of breeding time they only raise two broods

[miabaker]

Thank you for your reply. I live in South Africa and we are going into spring, so hopefully this is the right time!

[faz]

oh lol that will work then