From Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre
I always find it remarkable how the smallest babies survive in a big clutch. Look at the huge difference in size between the smallest and largest baby barn owls.
Unlike other birds that lay all their eggs and then start incubating them all at once, Barn owls start incubating them as they are laid. They can keep laying eggs from 1 to 3 weeks, resulting in hatchlings with significantly different ages. This is called asynchronous hatching.
For some theories about potential advantages of asynchronous hatching vs synchronous, check out this article.
I made that assumption, as well, that the early eggs would be given the edge in viability, full stop. Muscovies seem to be brooding anarchists, they make their own rules as they go.
Animals don’t seem to know they’re supposed to follow our rules! (/s)
I forgot to ask, what do you raise the ducks for and how many do you have?
I have one drake and five hens, I raise them for meat and eggs.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a duck egg.
Last night I was at someone’s house that has chickens and I saw they also had some ducks now. I’ll have to try to acquire one… 🤔
They’re very rich, very fluffy and roughly 1.5 the volume of a chicken egg. Really recommend for baking, the high end bakeries and restaurants prefer to use only duck eggs, or so I’ve heard.