Check for hidden nests if egg counts drop

If your ducks seem healthy but you are finding fewer eggs, search the entire coop, run, and any free-range area for hidden nests. Ducks are notorious for laying in concealed spots — under bushes, behind equipment, in tall grass, or in corners of outbuildings. Unlike chickens, many duck breeds prefer to create their own nest sites rather than use provided nesting boxes, and they actively camouflage their eggs with bedding and down.

Why It Works

Ducks typically lay between 4:00 and 8:00 AM, often before they are released from the coop. Keeping ducks locked in until 8:00–9:00 AM encourages them to lay inside where eggs are easy to find. If ducks are released earlier, they will find secluded outdoor spots and may build up a hidden clutch of 10–15 eggs before going broody on them. Finding and removing hidden nests prevents broodiness and ensures you are collecting all the eggs.

Tips

• Keep ducks locked in the coop until 8:00–9:00 AM to encourage laying inside
• Provide ground-level nesting areas in the coop with deep straw or shavings in dark, sheltered corners
• Ducks prefer nesting on the ground, not in elevated boxes like chickens
• If you find a hidden clutch, discard eggs older than a few days — use the float test (fresh eggs sink, old eggs float) to check