➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[NanaKat]

@NanaKat — Have you found the nest yet? I'm dying to know where she hid it.

I FOUND IT!


Finally this morning Maggie came to the coop for food and water. So I opened the gate.
I watched her eat and drink and hiss at the drakes who came near her. She head bobbed with her mate.
Maggie knew I was watching her and waiting for her to leave. She waited until I gave up and opened the gate wide so all could leave. (means I have to scour the yards for eggs)
Anyway, Maggie waddled off with six headed for the front yard. She knew I was following and stopped to stare at me. She nibbled grass and would watch me...I had to pretend to pull weeds from a flower bed and she zipped under the boughs of the Scotch Pine.
Yes, I checked. Maggie hissed at me! May have two to four eggs.
She was on her nest in a very dark area between some Iris plants, a big rock and the trunk of the tree. Really nicely hidden.

Now that I know where the nest is, hubby suggested letting her finish her hatch instead of moving her. It is in the front yard where no critters go because there is highway traffic.
Will consider that....she probaby has 8 to 10 days until hatch. I would hate to move her to a private pen and condo and then see a stressed Maggie abandon the eggs.

Anyone have success moving a duck hen and her eggs?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think leaving her there is a good idea! Especially if she doesn’t have very long to hatch. It sounds like it is really well hidden and she sounds like a super smart duck with the way she knew you were following her and was trying not to go to the nest with anyone watching so I think she would likely do the same with other “threats” too and knows how not to lead anyone to the nest. And clearly how to defend it too with the hissing. She might be alright with a move but I would just leave it as she seems like a really smart and capable mother duck. If she wasn’t or led you straight there or ditched it for food or whatever I would worry but she seems super smart. And then maybe once they hatch you could move her. But for now I’d probably just leave it since it’s in a really good spot anyway.

 

[NanaKat]

I'm leaning that way too.
For information from other duck owners I posted a thread in the duck forum for suggestions on a possible move.
Maggie went broody last year in the coop and lost all but one hatchling duckling because of crowding in the coop at night.
She was a great mom and her son has a mate this year.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'm leaning that way too.
For information from other duck owners I posted a thread in the duck forum for suggestions on a possible move.
Maggie went broody last year in the coop and lost all but one hatchling duckling because of crowding in the coop at night.
She was a great mom and her son has a mate this year.

That’s probably a good idea!! I definitely don’t have ducks so maybe someone with more experience will have a different, more informed opinion, but she seems super smart and like she’d be okay but always good to get as many opinions and as much information as possible!!

And aw glad at least one survived!! And if she was a great mom and it seemed crowded in there last time, probably all the more reason to leave her. I’m sure you’ve fixed the crowding problem or would have them in a different area but still.

 

[ShrekDawg]

THEY SHIPPED!!! THEY SHIPPED!!!

 

[Glitterchicks]

I'm thinking more of a superstorm of glitter at this point. High glitter winds, glitter hail, lightening that makes whatever it hits explode with yet more glitter... There can be cleats peppered in there somewhere too.

I just peed my pants.

GLITTERY PEE.

 

[Glitterchicks]

I love how nonplussed the other two look. They've seen this before, perhaps?

He is king of falling directly on his face. We can count on him biffing it at least 10 times a day, but if it's not a direct face plant, it's a win and everyone celebrates. Even him. He usually lifts up his arms in victory and yells (in his typical, unusually deep man-voice) "YEAH! I DIDN'T BUST MY FACE OPEN!"

THEY SHIPPED!!! THEY SHIPPED!!!

View attachment 1756871 View attachment 1756870

 

[ShrekDawg]

He is king of falling directly on his face. We can count on him biffing it at least 10 times a day, but if it's not a direct face plant, it's a win and everyone celebrates. Even him. He usually lifts up his arms in victory and yells (in his typical, unusually deep man-voice) "YEAH! I DIDN'T BUST MY FACE OPEN!"

OMG

And yessss!! I am so excited!! Although this morning when i still hadn’t gotten an email I was a little worried and checked when my last ones shipped

Those shipped a little before 10, like 9:50 something, these shipped 11:02 so we will see if that little bit, just over an hour, affects shipping time! Last time they got here next day but they also shipped over an hour earlier so we will see!!

 

[Molpet]

THEY SHIPPED!!! THEY SHIPPED!!!

View attachment 1756871 View attachment 1756870

how eggciting
is the brooder ready and mhp on?

 

[ShrekDawg]

how eggciting
is the brooder ready and mhp on?

Almost!! Adding the feeders and waterers and making the MHP today. My heating pad just got here today. I had some other ones but wasn’t sure they would work so I just bought a new one on Amazon haha and I have to buy a feeder which is where I am now. We had some but I can only find the top half with the head holes which obviously does no good lol so I’ll just buy another one. Slow day today. Didn’t leave the house until 2:30 even though I was up at 10:30. but I am definitely putting the MHP in and turning it on today, probably pretty soon here, cause last time I didn’t have anything ready so this time I want to be ready early. I am preparing for them to be here tomorrow since my last ones arrived next day but we will see. But the coop is sectioned off and I have shavings in it so the most important part (making an area for them to go) is done but working on the heat and everything today. But I am super excited for them!!