Manage broodiness to maintain egg production

Discourage broody behavior if consistent egg production is your priority. A broody duck stops laying entirely and will sit on a nest for 28 days (the full incubation period) or longer. Collect eggs promptly every morning to remove the trigger for broodiness. If a duck goes broody despite egg collection, break the cycle by removing her from the nest frequently or placing her in a wire-bottom "broody breaker" pen with food and water for 3–5 days.

Why It Works

Broodiness is hormonally driven — the sight and feel of a clutch of eggs triggers prolactin release, which suppresses ovulation. Removing eggs daily prevents the clutch from reaching the threshold that triggers broody behavior. The wire-bottom breaker pen works by keeping the duck's underside cool, which disrupts the hormonal signal (broody hens develop a warm, featherless "brood patch" on their belly that needs contact with eggs).

Tips

• Muscovies are the most broody breed — they will go broody multiple times per year
• Khaki Campbells and Runners rarely go broody, making them better choices for egg production
• Collect eggs before 9:00 AM every day without exception
• A broody duck that is not broken will stop laying for 4–8 weeks total (28 days sitting + recovery time)