Broody Duck

[dle124]

We have a duck that is broody. We don't want any more ducks. We are letting her lay on eggs that were previously refrigerated (which is my understanding will prevent them from eventually hatching, yes??) My question is - will the duck eventually get past this broody stage with laying on eggs that won't hatch. Is this how we should handle her? We were initially allowing her to lay on the eggs during the day but when we would come home from work, we'd get her off the eggs and block her from laying on them. We've since allowed her to be laying on the eggs for the last 48 hours.

Any insight would be very much appreciated as I'm running blind on this one.

Thanks!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Broody ducks are easier to cure than chickens from my understanding. Take the eggs away and destroy the nests.
@chickens really

 

[Vyctoria]

I'm going to watch this too since I was just about to post the same question. All I've been doing is taking the eggs like usual and destroying the nest, but she's persistent. She hates to leave the coop now and she follows the other hens around while they try to lay so that she can nab the eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL who has Muscovies? I do and right now I have 2 that aren't even on eggs but broody as can be, If you don't want any more ducks take the eggs away because even refrigerated eggs can hatch.[they buy the all the time at trader joes [fertile]
Just let her sit on nothing once the hormones begin they just have to go through the whole process until the hormones calm back down. Which maybe end of summer or fall. I have tried to break mine locking them out taking eggs nothing works so now I just let them go and just make sure they come out everyday to eat drink bathe and poop. Even breaking up the nest and replacing all the bedding doesn't work.

 

[PirateGirl]

Mine has been half broody for over a month now. I take all the eggs every day. I destroy the nest in the process. Sometime I completely clean out all the old bedding. She runs around angry with her neck scrunched up honking at me (or anyone or anything) whenever I am in eyesight. She is always angry! She does get up and walk around and eat and drink and bathe. If I were you, I'd keep taking the eggs and keep an eye on her. As long as she is regularly leaving the nest to eat/drink/etc. I wouldn't worry too much yet. I don't have a ton of experience since I am dealing with my first broody duck (and now also my first broody chicken), but I will tell you, the hormones can stay high for a long time, now that I think about it, it's been more like 2 months. I was really hoping my girl would be over it by now, but she is still angry and loud, but she is still healthy and does ducky things now, so I don't worry much. My broody chicken on the other hand is a real piece of work.

 

[chickens really]

Yes destroy the nest and get her back to moving around..
Refrigerator eggs can hatch if fertile..I have 3 Call eggs in a mix from a friend and the 3 were in the fridge so she brought them too. All growing embryos...

 

[Lil Drake40]

I have 4 broody chickens all bantam oh the joys of summer lol

 

[Celeste Cannon]

I know you don't want more chicks, but if you bought some ducklings and put them under her one night while she's not looking, she would think she "hatched" them and then she could raise them herself. That would mean you wouldn't have any work to do for the babies. Then when they get older you could give them different homes. Just another idea for you.

 

[chickens really]

I know you don't want more chicks, but if you bought some ducklings and put them under her one night while she's not looking, she would think she "hatched" them and then she could raise them herself. That would mean you wouldn't have any work to do for the babies. Then when they get older you could give them different homes. Just another idea for you.

Hmm...Great thought but you can't trick them they either accept them or kill them..

 

[PirateGirl]

I know you don't want more chicks, but if you bought some ducklings and put them under her one night while she's not looking, she would think she "hatched" them and then she could raise them herself. That would mean you wouldn't have any work to do for the babies. Then when they get older you could give them different homes. Just another idea for you.

Unfortunately this doesn't always work. I tried and I failed. Fortunately my ducklings are alive and unharmed, but I had to brood them in my house and had to make another fully predator proof run for them outdoors until I can successfully merge them with the other ducks. It takes time and space and patience. My ducklings are probably 7 weeks old now (or is it 8) and still housed separate, though things are getting better and I will try to combine them for short periods soon.