Broody Duck and Foster Babies

[gointothebirdsfarm]

I have a question that may seem obvious, but I wanted some opinions. So I have a duck who is broody almost all the time. I have broken her up, and a week or so later she decides that she is going to set again. I also have chickens. She will not lay eggs when she is sitting, so tries to sit on the chicken eggs. I would let her hatch out a batch if she laid her own eggs, but a duck raising chicks is not a good idea. Would it be possible for me to get her a couple "foster" ducklings and have her raise them? Is it even a good idea, and would she accept them? Has anyone else ever tried this? I just need some opinions here. Thank you!

 

[chickenlittle21]

I have a question that may seem obvious, but I wanted some opinions. So I have a duck who is broody almost all the time. I have broken her up, and a week or so later she decides that she is going to set again. I also have chickens. She will not lay eggs when she is sitting, so tries to sit on the chicken eggs. I would let her hatch out a batch if she laid her own eggs, but a duck raising chicks is not a good idea. Would it be possible for me to get her a couple "foster" ducklings and have her raise them? Is it even a good idea, and would she accept them? Has anyone else ever tried this? I just need some opinions here. Thank you!

Yes, you could get her ducklings as long as they are under a week old

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

Yes, you could get her ducklings as long as they are under a week old

You think she wouldn't have a problem accepting them? She wants to be a mommy so bad...

 

[RShayne]

What breed?

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

What breed?

A Muscovy.

 

[RShayne]

You could let her go broody for 3 weeks then one night take the eggs away and introduce day old ducklings but there is no guarantee she will accept them. Muscovy have a rep as the best mothers so if you can get her fertilized eggs and chances are good, she will be fine.

As for having a duck hatch chicken eggs, ducks take breaks to eat, swim, groom and come back wet. I don’t know if chicken eggs can handle getting wet.

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

You could let her go broody for 3 weeks then one night take the eggs away and introduce day old ducklings but there is no guarantee she will accept them. Muscovy have a rep as the best mothers so if you can get her fertilized eggs and chances are good, she will be fine.

As for having a duck hatch chicken eggs, ducks take breaks to eat, swim, groom and come back wet. I don’t know if chicken eggs can handle getting wet.

I'm scared shed try to take the chicks swimming. I've heard Muscovies are very broody, and I believe shed make a good mama. Does it matter what kind the ducklings are? I'm going to have enough trouble finding ducklings around here much less Muscovies. I figure it's worth a try even if she don't accept them.