broody duck

[dbolak]

My Welsh Harlequin girl has decided to go broody. She has a nest under a shrub and I think the other girls are putting eggs there as well. The eggs we have collected from the five girls has gone down to one a day. As the number decreased I began to look for a nest by the time I found it there had to be 12-18 eggs there. I did have two drakes that were very rough on the girls. I sent them away about three weeks ago. Within a week the number of eggs began to decrease.

How long do I let her sit on these eggs? I don't think any are fertile unless a wild mallard has paid a visit. We have many wild ducks in the area, however I have not seen any in the yard. When we go near the area she gets upset.

What do we do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Amiga]

First thing is you protect her. Sitting ducks get eaten by predators unless they are in a very secure area.

Some people build a secure area around the nest. Others risk the disruption and move the nest to a secure area. If you don't think they are fertile, I would be disruptive and move the nest. If she is determined to be broody, she will make another nest. You might make her a nest and put some marked eggs in it and see if she will go for that.

Some of my ducks go broody but just for a few days. A couple of them will sit it out for six weeks.

 

[Going Quackers]

If the eggs won't be fertile, i'd break the broody, no point in her draining herself for no outcome.

 

[dbolak]

Thanks for the info. This is the first time I have had this happen. The WH are only 13mo old. I will make sure she is OK.