Anyone else think they might have a problem?

[BlueO]

I mean, my hens are the incubators so

They constantly run, disappear when I'm trying to find them, and some of them just start wanting to incubate without warning

Which is the real problem here?
I suppose if you have to build a coop for your plug-in incubators, then that's when you have a problem

The only reason I haven't bought a couple incubators is because I know somebody who has a few I could borrow, one being an old cabinet style that'll hatch about 100 I think?

Yes, I to struggle with live duckubators. The mothers can be a bit of a horror but they are so cute waddling around with their babies! Next year I hope to have my goose go broody but I’ve heard they are rather unpleasant on the nest. Be careful if you ever do decide to barrow an incubator, that’s what got me hooked!

Some pictures of my duck with her babies! (And me trying to candle her eggs)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I can't even imagine trying to get eggs or goslings away from a goose! Wear a helmet!

 

[BlueO]

I can't even imagine trying to get eggs or goslings away from a goose! Wear a helmet!

Good idea! I’ve seen my gander wing-wack my poor duck just because he tried to eat food from the same bucket as his girl!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Yes, I to struggle with live duckubators. The mothers can be a bit of a horror but they are so cute waddling around with their babies! Next year I hope to have my goose go broody but I’ve heard they are rather unpleasant on the nest. Be careful if you ever do decide to barrow an incubator, that’s what got me hooked!

Some pictures of my duck with her babies! (And me trying to candle her eggs)

Did she lay and hatch 23 or did she adopt?

We're new to Muscovies, and I haven't much exposure to regular ducks or geese (but did get chased by a goose when I was like 3)

 

[gullinkambe]

Noooo, no, no! I can totally make up completely validated and sound reasons why I need to incubate Actually, my incubator has hardly run the last two years, meaning it's DEFINITELY time for it to start earning its keep again!

I went for one big, expensive and automatic incubator when I bought my last one. My first ever, that I bought when I was 16, was shelved when the temperature gage stopped working. Then I got a small manual one, that I hated. I sold it, and bought a big Brinsea. It's awesome for incubation, not so much for hatching, so when I got the temp gage fixed on my first one, I use that one for hatching. Oldie, but goldie!

I don't do "natural" incubators anymore. Had too much heartbreak with accidents, illness, bad weather etc. I like to keep it controlled.

 

[Strawberry74]

Yes, I to struggle with live duckubators. The mothers can be a bit of a horror but they are so cute waddling around with their babies! Next year I hope to have my goose go broody but I’ve heard they are rather unpleasant on the nest. Be careful if you ever do decide to barrow an incubator, that’s what got me hooked!

Some pictures of my duck with her babies! (And me trying to candle her eggs)

I think I have 6 incubators, but I am retiring one. Definitely no problem here lol

How are your sebbies?! Did she feather out nicely? She may just go broody this spring. My first year girls usually do! If you notice she starts laying and hasn't begun to sit you can take her eggs to incubate. I always like to have a few that aren't parent raised at least for a few weeks so l get to cuddle. Parents will adopt them (usually) whenever you are ready. During normal winters, my girls usually start the 3rd week of February, but this year has been so warm I wouldn't be surprised if they don't start sooner. I already have breeding going on but haven't found any eggs. They are beautiful on the nest, but a force to be reckoned with and the boys protecting them... let's just say even a normally sweet gander better not even catch you looking in that direction