I have a duck that has laid two eggs now. Both times she has laid them in the water in the pond. She and a male mallard are together in the pond. Why is she doing this and are the eggs retrievable to incubate and hatch?

-- Arlene Ritchey (rritchey@ev1.net), February 07, 2002

Answers

Ha Ha. Ducks will do that. Infuriating, isn't it? They do not taste good either, unless you get them out soon after they are laid. After a day or two in the pond, they taste pondy. The only way I've found to prevent it is to shut the ducks up in a pen or house at night. Then let them out after they have laid their eggs, which usually occurs in the morning. They will not lay all the eggs in the pond all of the time, but it's still an irritating waste. I don't think they will hatch. When the duck gets ready to set on eggs, she will make a nest and lay the eggs in that instead of the pond. Then you can get the freshest eggs every day and keep her laying them there. Or let her hatch them out, ability to do this seems to vary from one duck to the next.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 07, 2002.

A couple of winters ago I found some wild duck eggs in the creek by my house. I tried retrieving them but the water was too deep. I was kind of wondering then if they would be good to eat.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 07, 2002.

Just noticed this post and although it is a bit late to be replying I thought I'd just put in my half cent. LOL My ducks lay before 9AM, so I don't let them out until after that time. That said I will amend that by adding that the only hen who doesn't do that consistantly is a wild mallard that now lives with us. When she decides to go broody she will wait until after I let her out with the domestic ducks and she'll sneak off to try and nest. Her drake gives her away(a BlueHead Aust. Spotted Bantam)by patroling back and forth where she is hiding and telling everyone to "keep away" which of course tells everyone just where she is! LOL So, as mentioned above, if you want eggs don't let your ducks out too early. And no, the eggs will not hatch and shouldn't be eaten. Egg shells are porous and "breath" and so readily absorb things they are immersed in. I bet your mallards are beautiful. The drake will be getting seriously into breeding colors now. What fun! LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 08, 2002.

Thanks for the replies!!! I've retrieved several eggs on the banks of the pond since my first message. You guys really are a neat group of people. Glad I found this board!!

-- Arlene (rritchey@ev1.net), February 08, 2002.