duck egg laying incubation
Posted by Libby Breuer on September 19, 2008
Q: If a duck lays eggs over a period of a few days/ week why is it that the ducklings, when they hatch are always a very similar age?
State: Outside the U.S. and Canada
A: An especially good question!! Ducks usually lay an egg each day until they determine (not sure just how they do this) that their clutch is finished. Only then do they begin incubation. So, all the eggs begin development at the same time ensuring that the ducklings hatch all about the same time. There are some birds that begin incubation with the first egg, the owls for example, and the young hatch at different times. In this case, if food is scarce, the oldest/largest babies may get enough to eat but the youngest may not. This may sound "unfair" but is an excellent strategy for having at least one or two babies live in lean years. Thanks for your thoughtful question.
John Wiessinger ( September 20, 2008)