Brooding khaki cambell ...questions...need professional insight

[mkeilman]

I have a single female khaki cambell duck,( in my super small flock of three-2males,I female)(looking for more girls now but that's for a different thread)... She recently made a nest and laid a bunch of eggs, she has been sitting on them religiously for 14 days now. Everything I have read about kc, is that they are not good mothers, so I'm confused by her commitment thus far. This site is my only lifeline for real quality duck information. ...my question...is she even capable of hatching and raising ducklings? (We really want her to), is her behavior normal, should I expect her to lose interest before Expected hatch day? If she hatches eggs , will she hurt/ignore them? We are prepared with incubators and brooding boxes if we see she loses interest, but so far she seems really committed. I am, of course, new to ducks, so I really need some wisdom from a khaki cambell owner. Thanks so much to everyone on here who takes time to respond to my silly questions, I have learned so much reading on this site!
Meg

 

[Amiga]

No KCs here, but runners, and from what I have seen in my flock (I think KCs were bred from runners and another breed or two), there are some who will go broody.

The answers to your questions are all up to that particular duck. Some brood and give up, some hatch and are not good mothers. We don't know.

You are wise to be on standby with incubator and brooder.

You already know about the boy-girl concern - keep her safe. Keep her ducklings safe. I think you will.

 

[sophieoneill]

I agree with Amiga!! Although I know that Khaki Campbell's can be good at brooding and rearing their own young as my Khaki Campbell has done so..so have the incubator and brooder on stand-by just in case..but give her a chance, it's possible

 

[subhanalah]

I have read about runners being fantastic mothers while a notoriously broody breed in the same flock wouldn't ever give a second look at an egg after its been laid. It really does depend on the duck. Welsh harlequins came from KC's and make pretty good mother's, so the genes are still there in some lines, I would assume at least!