Broody mallard hen

[indianaducks]

All the signs of a broody mallard hen... my two mallards are always a little "broody" while they are laying but then they get up and go about their business after I take their eggs and everyone is fine. Until today. Today I collected eggs. Then went out later and a mallard had laid later and was sitting on it. So shooed her away and took the egg. Went out this afternoon and she's sitting on fake eggs. And really broody. So I gave her 3 eggs back from this morning and she went back and is sitting on them.

So how do I know if she'll stay broody and sit on them for the next 28 days or so? Just keep an eye on her? Candle them? Let her lay more? I've incubated twice but never had a broody hen before. Figured I have eggs coming out my ears right now so if its a failed experiment I'm just out a few eggs, no big deal.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

I say see what happens!

 

[indianaducks]

I'm definitely going to see what happens. I have an incubator so worst case I can put the eggs in that if she abandons her nest with viable eggs. I wasn't planning to hatch anymore for a while... I'm a bit overrun at the moment LOL. But seemed a cool thing to try haha. She was off her next for 30 min or so at least but she's back on it now so who knows. I plan to candle the eggs about a week in.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

I have an incubator so worst case I can put the eggs in that if she abandons her nest with viable eggs.

eggsactly!

 

[indianaducks]

Anything in particular I need to do for her? She's been on the nest all day except for about 30 min or so this morning to get food and water. Right now she's just in with everyone else, I could probably try to block her off from everyone else if this continues?

 

[indianaducks]

Things getting crazy here. The other half of the double trouble team is helping out. They go everywhere together. And are little egg klepto ducks and keep stealing fresh laid eggs to add to their collection. I’m trying to keep their collection at a manageable amount.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Is she still doing good?

 

[indianaducks]

Yep! She and her BFF (other mallard hen) that do everything together are sharing the nest. They are barely off it, today was the first day I had seen them off it in almost a week. I'm sure they had gotten off to eat, but I hadn't noticed. They are just about halfway at this point, give or take a few days. I will probably fire up the incubator in a week (just precautionary), but so far they are doing great and keeping everyone FAR FAR AWAY lol.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Yep! She and her BFF (other mallard hen) that do everything together are sharing the nest. They are barely off it, today was the first day I had seen them off it in almost a week. I'm sure they had gotten off to eat, but I hadn't noticed. They are just about halfway at this point, give or take a few days. I will probably fire up the incubator in a week (just precautionary), but so far they are doing great and keeping everyone FAR FAR AWAY lol.

Great!!! Good luck!

 

[indianaducks]

Great!!! Good luck!

Thanks! I need to move my current batch of ducklings outside soon, in case any of these wind up in the incubator and hatching... a broody wasn't in the plans, but why not try it? lol