On the farm we kept a flock of 12 to15 pekin hens with 3 or 4 muscovy drakes to produce "mules" for the market. The cross produces a leaner meatier type bird with extremely good flavor. All of these hens would go broody and frequently raise two broods each year. Under proper management raising ducklings naturally is no big deal. The source of pekins was farm raised also. I don't know if the hatchery produced birds will brood successfully or not, but these birds were very prolific. Allowing hens to "gang nest"greatly cuts down on the chances for success.
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