Broody Indian Runners

Hi guys, I'm new here, nice forum you have!

I've had my indian runners for about 2 years, I have 1 drake and 4 girls.

I left some eggs in the duck house and they sort of went unnoticed for a week.

I went to collect them and they were warm! It looks as though I have 2 girls sat on them.

Now the eggs have been added to so there is now quite a lot (about 17)

Is it normal to have two girls sat on one big pile of eggs?

I'd like the girls to have a go at hatching their own so do I just leave them to it?

Should I prepare another special area for them for when they hatch (if them hatch)

HELP PLEASE!!

PS. this is my little website I created if you want a nosey http://indianrunnerducks.tumblr.com/

Hi!

I'm in the exact same situation! I have 1 drake and 4 hens!
Two of my hens were sharing a nest of 5 eggs and this morning, A LITTLE BABY HAD APPEARED!

I only allowed 6 eggs for my girls and took the others away when they went for a leg stretch as didn't want to end up with too many ducklings! One egg was kicked out the nest last week but the others are going strong and one baby has already hatched!
But I think sharing a nest appears to happen quite a bit as I've done a lot of research on it and it occurs a fair bit!
At the moment, mine are sharing the workload so I'll see what happens when the rest hatch.

I wouldn't try and separate the eggs, just leave them to it and they'll figure it out between them. When they hatch, all you'll need to do is ensure you've got a separate place to house the rest of the flock at night as the ducklings may be easily trampled.

I would suggest just leaving them and see how they get on

I'm in the same situation and am still learning but I will keep you posted on their progress!

Really! I heard Runners arn't broody at all.

jessie133471 said:

Hi!

I'm in the exact same situation! I have 1 drake and 4 hens!
Two of my hens were sharing a nest of 5 eggs and this morning, A LITTLE BABY HAD APPEARED!

I only allowed 6 eggs for my girls and took the others away when they went for a leg stretch as didn't want to end up with too many ducklings! One egg was kicked out the nest last week but the others are going strong and one baby has already hatched!
But I think sharing a nest appears to happen quite a bit as I've done a lot of research on it and it occurs a fair bit!
At the moment, mine are sharing the workload so I'll see what happens when the rest hatch.

I wouldn't try and separate the eggs, just leave them to it and they'll figure it out between them. When they hatch, all you'll need to do is ensure you've got a separate place to house the rest of the flock at night as the ducklings may be easily trampled.

I would suggest just leaving them and see how they get on

I'm in the same situation and am still learning but I will keep you posted on their progress!

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Great stuff, thanks for the reply.

There's actually 3 girls now sat on about 17 eggs, what have I let myself in for!?
I don't really want to disturb them too much so if/when they do start hatching (I've calculated it as the 24th June) I'll shift them to a new little section.

I'll keep you posted

Amiga said:

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Hi Amiga, i have a Q: My 1 yr old f/w runner has gone broody, however, the 1st day she sat on her iwn egg foe 1/2 the day then left it for the pool & play, so i took it out. The 2nd day she sat All day on her companions eggs and most of the next day. The 3rd day she sat in her bed/nest/night box All day with an egg in there, But she wasnt sitting on the egg, the egg was off to the side about 6" away. The 4th day she sat in her nest All day without any egg/s in ther. The 5th day (today) she is in her nest again without any egg/s. Her sistecompanion lad an egg next to our propane tank, i picked it up and put in under the broody runner (the one in the nest for 5 days). Is this ok, all the above? Any suggestions? She has fresh food & water & she does come out to jump in the pool for a few mins. She has not layed an egg of her own for 5 days? Not worried, just curious!

My runner hen is sitting on 13 eggs right now. It took her awhile to decide to stick with it but she is doing an excellent job. I can't wait to see what happens!

CyndiD said:

Hi Amiga, i have a Q: My 1 yr old f/w runner has gone broody, however, the 1st day she sat on her iwn egg foe 1/2 the day then left it for the pool & play, so i took it out.
The 2nd day she sat All day on her companions eggs and most of the next day.
The 3rd day she sat in her bed/nest/night box All day with an egg in there, But she wasnt sitting on the egg, the egg was off to the side about 6" away.
The 4th day she sat in her nest All day without any egg/s in ther.
The 5th day (today) she is in her nest again without any egg/s.
Her sistecompanion lad an egg next to our propane tank, i picked it up and put in under the broody runner (the one in the nest for 5 days).
Is this ok, all the above? Any suggestions?
She has fresh food & water & she does come out to jump in the pool for a few mins. She has not layed an egg of her own for 5 days?
Not worried, just curious!

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Most likely she is fine, I would watch to make sure she's not egg bound, but that is a very slight possibility.

Egg bound ducks hold their tails down or pump them from level to downward, have that distant look in their eye, walk slowly, and may not have much appetite. If your girl is jumping, eating, drinking, and even acting a little hyperactive off the nest, then it sounds more like broody. I'd put an egg under her - even a dud - mark it so you know which one it is.

Amiga said:

Most likely she is fine, I would watch to make sure she's not egg bound, but that is a very slight possibility.

Egg bound ducks hold their tails down or pump them from level to downward, have that distant look in their eye, walk slowly, and may not have much appetite.  If your girl is jumping, eating, drinking, and even acting a little hyperactive off the nest, then it sounds more like broody.  I'd put an egg under her - even a dud - mark it so you know which one it is.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I did think about her being egg bound so i palpated her, & didnt feel an egg inside her like i have before.
Im glad u mentioned the "hyractive" mood, because that is eactly what she is doing when she is out of her nest. It is cute & funny. She runs around like she is in a Big hurry! But why would she sit all day with no egg under her or one egg off to the side? Maybe because she is new to sitting & she is not sure what to do?
And my other f/w runner has been laying eggs, but she is laying them outside her nest box, she has been doing this for 2-3 weeks. She layed a few up on the hill under a bush, then one day in the pool, then in a puddle next to the pool, then one was in the pool broken w/a very thin shell, & now she likes the propane tank. I thought maybe because of all the new ducklings i have outside? The first week the ducklings were in a seperate pen, then i let them all free range, then the older f/w's stayed away, so i made a large pen for the ducklings (for safety & so my f/w would come back to their normal area). But the one f/w is still laying away from her nest. They were both like clockwork w/their laying, at 6-7am, i go out to let them out of their nest & ther is always 2 eggs, but things are changing now! Oh, the broody sweethearts!?! Thanks again for ur time

Ducks do some pretty incomprehensible things. They run on hormones much of the time. I have learned from them, that humans probably do, too - just another gift from the duckies.

Just observe them, keep your mind open to what their behavior may mean, keep them safe, keep doing what you are doing.