Broody Duck Hen

[DuckWhisperer06]

Aren’t broodies supposed to stop laying? I’ve marked all 4 eggs and have been taking out the new ones the past few mornings, but... aren’t they supposed to stop?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Unless they aren’t through building their clutch they will keep laying until they get the number they like.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Oh, they’ve already been sitting for a few days so I wanted the eggs to all hatch around the same time.

Should I stop taking the eggs from them?

 

[Miss Lydia]

And your sure it these that are laying both or one? I would stop taking the eggs but keep marking them then when they finally stop laying when they are out go in an take the oldest ones out you can leave them as few as 4 if you want once they go broody they don’t care but you might want to let them have 3 each.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Wednesday evening, the dogs got into the pen any took two eggs, the other two were fine. The girls continued to sit, so I gave them the two from that morning. Haven’t candled any but will probably try tonight. If they’ve laid any this morning (I haven’t gone out yet) I will mark them and leave them there. This will probably be the last day since I don’t want them to be too far apart. We have other eggs in the incubator about as far along as the broodies eggs. If she leaves any that are still good I will put them in the incubator.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

There weren’t any more when I went out there. Does this mean they’re done?

There’s only 4 eggs under them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe see what tomorrow brings if none tomorrow I'd say your good to go.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

They took broodyness to a whole new level, one I’ve yet to see until now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is hilarious.

Okay you may just have to separate them because eggs can get broken. Ducklings can get trampled

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

That is hilarious.

Okay you may just have to separate them because eggs can get broken. Ducklings can get trampled

I will. I’ll have to get some shavings when we run into town.