Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks - Page 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lydia 

stony she is lovely, so happy for ya'll that she has had such a good time of brooding and hatching and now raising.. Sure makes life easier.  

  I know we think she is absolutely beautiful. She has really proved to be a great mama as well. And Patrick has been a really good boy. We watched him real close at 1st. He pecked at the babies a couple of times, but never hard. He hasn't done that in days now. They swim with him, stand under him to get shade and he is ok with it. 

    Broody's are SO much easier than brooding yourself. Especially with ducks. They are such messy little things . 

   We could not be more proud of Penelope. She is not only beautiful, but a great mama. 

    now we need to build the permanent coop and run for them. They are going to need the space!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lydia 

I had an issue last year with one of my ducks, she sat on 3 eggs, when the one started hatching she actually tried to kill it, she pecked it's head on both sides and would not let it get under her. I tried several times to put the duckling under her she kept pushing him out, finally i brought him inside and raised him. I have always said if a broody does not do a good job then thats her only chance but when this duck was the first to go broody this year I gave in and let her all the while thinking that we'd probably have to bring them in, well she has proved to be a great mama. So  Emmie is 4 this year. I think age may play a roll in some breeds. Only one of her other eggs started hatching last year and because of her ignorance or what ever it was it got shrink wrapped and died while hatching. It's hard to figure these things out. You were right and leaving the baby with it's mother, and you don't know something may have been wrong that couldn't be seen. How long has she been on the eggs now?  

It was 37 days on Monday.. i have no idea what to do next, she seemed very content last night, sitting away... i wonder if something else hatched? anyways, it's hard with these girls as they were the ones we bought at 6-7mths old so while they are "ours" they have not been here a year and are not as tame as my own duckling raised birds.

I'm pretty disheartened about the whole thing actually, of coarse having to bury it last night probably didn't help. I guess it wouldn't have been as bad if she at least had a survivor at this rate? I'm thinking we are getting nothing.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonykill 

  I know we think she is absolutely beautiful. She has really proved to be a great mama as well. And Patrick has been a really good boy. We watched him real close at 1st. He pecked at the babies a couple of times, but never hard. He hasn't done that in days now. They swim with him, stand under him to get shade and he is ok with it. 

    Broody's are SO much easier than brooding yourself. Especially with ducks. They are such messy little things . 

 

   We could not be more proud of Penelope. She is not only beautiful, but a great mama. 

 

    now we need to build the permanent coop and run for them. They are going to need the space!

That sounds so sweet, i admit i have been greatly surprised by my drakes .. they have been generally quite protective and good with our 4wk old.. i have no clue who the daddy is lol

So Lilac only has two eggs under her.. i found an egg tossed out of the nest today.. with a way undeveloped duck. sigh.. so this is going rather badly, she is still sitting on the two eggs... but i am doubtful, we will have to candle but my weather is utter garbage pouring rain and 50F I am starting to wonder if there was a problem and that is why lilly abandoned this nest and stole lilacs but then one baby did hatch? of coarse it died though.. yes, thinking out loud here.

The nest Lilly is on is due between June 5th(33 days) & 8th(37days) I feel badly for lilac though but not sure how to handle this.. she hasn't been sitting as long since she moved to lilly's nest about a week + before it was due to hatch but still.. I don't know if i should steal an egg or two back from Lilly and give them to Lilac so she may get some babies after all? thoughts?? Lilly does leave now and again to forage/bathe and these eggs were Lilac's to begin with anyhow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lydia 

I probably would take a few eggs to share.  I candled Alices eggs this morning and out of 5 I am thinking maybe and it's a big maybe 1 maybe good. I am really beginning to wonder about fertility in my flock. 3 of these eggs were from my 3 youngest 1 yr next month and my drake that will be 1 yr tomorrow,. Good grief what is going on?  I hope you get some to hatch from your next batch due.. We're having the rain but it's in the 60's. Nice day for ducks.  

Thanks, i know last time i looked Lilly had over 14 eggs! so it's not like she couldn't spare a few lol I'm sorry your candling didn't yield a positive find.. my birds are all young, these girls are the oldest actually they have about a month or two on my original birds.. the drakes are 14mths(oldest guy) and then the pair of trouble turn 1yo come Aug...  the birds are well, healthy, content etc the one(and only duckling) Junior is growing super good so i just don't get it? I feel like i suck at this .... not trying to be a negative nelly just that rubber ducky dying sorta has left me deflated, everyone always say 'scovies breed like rabbits.. er.. no i have bred those they are way easier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Lydia 

You know on the goose thread a while back there was discussion about GMO feed causing sterlity in flocks as well as humans. I don't feed Organic matter of fact have used Purina Sunfresh Feed since i started with ducks 9 yrs ago. I am sure it;'s GMO what isn't?  so could this be the problem?  will we ever know?  

I have no idea.. i feed a purina feed but in my country we have really limited choices in feeds ...  If i cannot get it to work i may have to try and find some more girls.. i just don't have enough and while i would like to rehome a drake or two oddly enough the flock is in a real peaceful place so i am unsure if that is really needed, the boys just need more girls and it would probably keep it on an even keel.

This is what it says about the line of feed i use...

"The Golden Line for chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks is non-medicated feed formulated with 100% vegetable protein. From starter to finisher, Golden Line will give you healthy poultry with the performance you need. "

I use the golden harvest formula for all ages of poultry.