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are not as popular as hens ' eggs because they don ' t keep so well . The shells are more porous that chickens ' egg shells , and more likely to become contaminated by bacteria . If they are collected soon after lay , kept clean and stored in a cool place they will keep for seven to ten days . Compare this with chickens eggs that may be stored chilled for three weeks . Egg laying begins at about 16 to 18 weeks of age . Most eggs are laid at night , so it is best to collect the eggs between 0900 and 1000 if you can . This is also important because ducks lay their eggs randomly , often in ( none too clean ) mud . Collecting them early , and washing them well , minimises the chances of harmful bacteria seeping through the relatively porous shells and contaminating the contents . A female duck may be left to
Pekins enjoying a splash in a baby ’ s bath sit on her eggs to raise only half of the hatched ducklings . Several ducks may ducklings eventually surviving . To compensate , some lay eggs in one nest , but it is best to confine sitting ducks people put the duck eggs separately , otherwise there under a broody hen who may be squabbles about usually does a good job of it whose eggs and ducklings ~ even if she does become they are . anxious when her ' chicks '
Ducks are not often good eventually take to the water , mothers . They may sit on 20 leaving her fretting on the eggs but hatch only half , with bank of the pond .
WATERFOWL
Or , duck eggs can be successfully incubated artificially , and the ducklings raised in a brooder . Remember that very young ducklings with down are not waterproof and can drown easily . The table duck can be almost half grown by about four weeks of age , and it can have reached its table weight of 3kg by about nine weeks of age , but generally free range ducks take a few weeks more to reach this weight . Like chickens , ducks are divided into bantam , light and heavy breeds , with the heavy breeds being better suited to the table and the light breeds providing the high egg layers . Probably the most common breeds in South Africa are Welsh Harlequins and Pekins . ❑ Welsh Harlequins: These are utility ducks , providing good meat and eggs . They are very attractive . The male
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