Broody Duck Question

[PicklesMom]

Hi everyone - Question about one of my lady ducks, who I think may be broody.

We have a flock with 4 females and one drake, almost 2 years old. Our drake can be obsessive about one of our females, who is also the smallest unfortunately, so I tend to keep her separated from him especially during mating season. Yesterday he slipped out and was free ranging with the gals, he tried to mate with her once and then seemed to leave her alone, so I let them all stay out together. When I went to put them in, I couldn't find her and eventually realized she had gone back to her house in the run. Sometimes she does that when he gets to be too much for her, so I gave her a quick checkover. She had a small scrape on the back of her neck but no other obvious injuries. Once I forced her out of her house she came out to eat and splash in the water, but this morning she was staying in the house again, even while the others were waiting for food and trying to get out onto the lawn. I scooted her out, took the eggs she was on, and gave her another once-over, and can't find anything wrong with her. She seems to walk normally once I get her up, her vent seems normal and it doesn't seem like she's straining or waddling (more than normal for a duck, lol).

I guess my question is - is it normal for them to go broody so suddenly? It seems strange that it just started mid afternoon, like a switch came on.

Thanks so much!

 

[sourland]

Is she pulling feathers and exhibiting a staccato type quacking? If so she is likely broody. If not, she is just trying to avoid the drake.

 

[PicklesMom]

Is she pulling feathers and exhibiting a staccato type quacking? If so she is likely broody. If not, she is just trying to avoid the drake.

I'll have to pay attention to her quacking. She may have just been laying an egg this morning and I got a little too worried about her... she's up and acting herself now.