Broody mallard hen

[indianaducks]

Still going strong. Little over two weeks in

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Still going strong. Little over two weeks in

tell her I said "great job!"

 

[Miss Lydia]

Still going strong. Little over two weeks in

So special

 

[indianaducks]

Well just ordered duckling starter in case this happens... still have 1.5 weeks or so.

 

[indianaducks]

I'm guessing 10-13 days left. They are still sitting and doing awesome! I just plugged in my incubator just in case but hoping they will hatch and raise them for me!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I bet they will they have been doing this for many moons!!

 

[indianaducks]

Well the double trouble mallard ladies took a long enough break (at the same time) that I was able to inspect the nest (aka count the eggs) for the first time in like 2 weeks... my little egg kleptos went bonkers unsupervised and had a nest of approximately 24 eggs. OMG. I was able to candle and approx 17 looked good and roughly a week or so from hatching (as expected) so I left those. 5 looked like either duds or freshly laid that they stole, so I tossed those. 2 looked like they were alive (I could see veins) but only looked about a week or so along in development, so knowing they probably didn't stand a chance in the nest, I moved them to the incubator and will keep an eye on them. I'm not really sure what is going to happen if any of the 17 nest eggs have to move to the incubator, but that's a problem for another day. These mallards sure seem to know what they are doing... now to figure out what to do with an extra dozen or more possible ducklings that I didn't plan for...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh my word they really have a nest ful. It will be fun to watch them with their ducklings I never get tired of that,

 

[indianaducks]

Oh my word they really have a nest ful. It will be fun to watch them with their ducklings I never get tired of that,

Would you recommend I block their nest and nearby area off from the rest of the flock a few days before they hatch?

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's what I do I always give mama and duckling their own space, gives ducklings time to get stronger and bonding time is important too.