[Honeysuckle]

Both my khaki campbell ducks have started to sit on eggs.  First of all I'm not sure it's a good idea to have ducklings hatch at his time of year (too cold)  but OH says to let the eggs hatch and then we will put them in a brooder pen.  Secondly, how can we mark the eggs that they are sitting on so that we can take any new eggs away?  Is a permanent marker pen too toxic?   

[CluckyChicken]

Pencil is always a good option, if you draw a circle or something 
It may be quite upsetting for the hen/duck if she has her babies taken away from her-im no duck expert so i'm not sure, but do they sit on them?   If so, the ducklings will be fine, as she will keep them warm (thats what my hen is doing at the moment!)

CC xx

[Kate and her Ducks]

Firstly are you sure they are broody? Broodies don't lay as then there would be eggs of different incubations in the nest and they wouldn't all hatch at the same time and ducks don't have pencils (although this is a good way of marking them if you are incubating to check turning etc).

Campbells are know for their reluctance to go broody at anytime of the year, nevermind the time they are least likely to be successful in raising a brood. If they do go broody then you still need to be prepared for disappointment as they often get bored half way through and abandon the nest and anything in it.

If you are prepared to keep them in a brooder if anything hatches then you might have a chance of getting them through the cold weather. It will mean keeping them under cover until they are fully feathered and waterproofed which is about 8 weeks. That's a lot of duck poo!

How is your drake coping with both of his girls abandoning him? He will need to be kept seperate from them while they are broody and especially if any ducklings hatch.

I have to say, at this time of year I would disuade any of my girls from going broody (although I have lost battles with hormonal ducks in the past).

[Honeysuckle]

OH managed to have a good look this morning, there was only one egg (they've obviously stopped laying as it's been about 3-4 days since they started sitting).  The egg has been taken away now. 

Thanks for the advice.