A Question About Ducks - Broodiness?

[Dances with Ducks]

My Welsh Harlequin started laying her egg after I let the ducks out of the duck house to free range. We recently expanded the duck house with a nicer nest box in the duck house, and ta da! - she now lays her egg with the other hens in the nest box. Maybe she just wanted a nicer nest box?

 

[Daniel_2kaii9]

my both female ducks have gone broody there sitting on the same 6 eggs is that ok ?

 

[froggie71]

Yes that is just fine. They can share the duty. Our 2 Swede girls shared a nest and our 2 runners girls shared a different nest.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
That can work as long as BOTH ducks are broody. If one is still laying eggs in the nest you can have a mess on your hands as you will get one hatch of the original eggs and one additional duck delayed by the length of time it was laid after the first bunch. most ducks don't like to quit setting as long as there is a live egg in the nest but on the other hand they feel the need to be a mama to the ones hatched.

 

[Daniel_2kaii9]

if thay hatch do i have 2 separate the drake from them ?

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I think it helps to separate the drake, although I have never never had to deal with that situation. I have heard that the drake might attack the ducklings. It would be nice if only one duck went broody so he could have some company, do you think?

 

[Daniel_2kaii9]

so if thay do hatch shall i separate the 2 white ones from the black swedish ?

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I think so, but I would like to hear other people's opinions on this as I wondering about this question for my flock next year.

 

[froggie71]

I think it depends on the momma. We had 1 duckling hatch by its lone self so far. The broodys (runners) did not leave the nest and the duckling was running around the duck house getting trampled by the other big ducks. As we already had a brooder set up for 2 chicks and 2 keets, we just brought the duckling inside. Hopefully when the others hatch I can keep them outside with the mommas.

I know this didn't help much, but just personal experience so far....

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Quote:
Why did the broodys stay on the nest? Did they have more eggs to hatch?