broody hen + duck eggs = sucess?

[AmyLM]

I have a number of bloody hens that would really like to hatch something.... ones been trying to hatch 6 goofballs fora month now. I sell all of my eggs though and usually have none left over week to week. What I do have that I'd like to hatch is 8 duck eggs from my ducks (probably fertile).

I would like to put them under a hen but has anyone had any success with this method?

If I do this would it be better to put them under my silkies, sizzles, my dark cornish (aka the goofball hatcher), or my rock who's a tad... shall I say... aggressive in protecting her nest.

 

[sourland]

Chicken hens do a fine job of hatching and raising ducklings. Some hens will quit prior to the 4 (or 5 week with Muscovy) week incubation period, but most do not. I would not use the hen who has already been broody for a month. It is very unlikely that she would set that long - as a matter of fact she might die on the nest. Broodiness can be quite debilitating to some hens who just do not eat enough while setting.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a girl duck who laid 2 eggs in the rain and left them. I put the eggs under a bantam. both hatched. and she was a good mom to them. when the ducks were all grown, I saw the 2 of them walk past the momma hen and look at eachother, like "that was our mom" and they nodded at her in respect.

 

[AmyLM]

Awww. Well I'm going to try it. Per my mom's suggestion I will mark the eggs and put like 2 under each hen that way if something bad happens I won't loose all of them hopefully.