Buff building a nest to hatch herself

[cassmama]

So I'm a little confused. This is the first time we let our frequently-broody buff hen keep eggs for a nest, now that we finally have a drake to fertilize her. Everything I've read says that they will lay an egg a day to build their nest (not sitting on it) and THEN sit on the nest all day to begin incubating. Well she has been guarding that nest with her life from egg #1, adding about an egg a day and barely leaving it to eat and drink. Doesn't this mean that they will hatch at different times? Maybe she's frustrated that we've been taking her eggs all this time and doesn't want to lose them? There are 14 eggs now and our Rouen hen seems to be helping her sometimes, they will sit on it together. I wonder if the Rouen is laying eggs in it as well, although it's been basically +1 egg each day. We think MAYBE the Rouen had her own nest started next to the Buff's, one day we went out and there were two eggs to the side of the nest, then they were back in the nest the next day. If so, maybe they combined them? Haha I have no idea what these girls are up to. Problem is... duck eggs are delicious. I wanna eat them, but not if she's going to hatch them out. Any thoughts/experience?

 

[SD Bird Lady]

broody animals dont lay. I would venture to guess that your Rouen is laying in the buff nest and there will be a staggered hatch. You may want to candle and see if you can see better what is going on and then mark the eggs that are viable and continue to remove the newly laid eggs. Good luck

 

[cassmama]

I know how to candle eggs, but how should I go about this outside? Maybe bring a small box with me or something? Buff is extremely protective too. Poor thing, I have to wait longer than usual to bring out food so she'll get up and eat. Otherwise I can't see a thing and she'll snap at me. I'm betting candling 14-15 eggs while Buff happily eats nearby will not go as well as I hope...

Also, I plan to move the rest of the birds to another yard (there are some young chickens in with her but they pretty much keep to themselves. And a lone turkey). I guess I don't have to worry about it for at least a week or two right? And I should probably move the drake as well when they start hatching? A friend told me they will attack the babies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know how to candle eggs, but how should I go about this outside? Maybe bring a small box with me or something? Buff is extremely protective too. Poor thing, I have to wait longer than usual to bring out food so she'll get up and eat. Otherwise I can't see a thing and she'll snap at me. I'm betting candling 14-15 eggs while Buff happily eats nearby will not go as well as I hope...

Also, I plan to move the rest of the birds to another yard (there are some young chickens in with her but they pretty much keep to themselves. And a lone turkey). I guess I don't have to worry about it for at least a week or two right? And I should probably move the drake as well when they start hatching? A friend told me they will attack the babies.

I wait till my broody comes out to eat then i go in and close the door put the eggs in a box and bring them inside i use a small towel to line the box and cover over the eggs, then when i come out i keep the door closed so she can't go back in till I have candled and replaced the eggs in the nest, don't worry how you lay them she is going to rearrange them any way. Then I open the door and walk out like nothing has happened, and yes be sure to mark the eggs. I start with #1 As long as she isn't making the rest of the flocks life miserable by harassing them when she comes out wait till close to hatch day to move everyone including the drake I usually keep the mamas and ducklings separate but visible for 3 weeks .

 

[cassmama]

They are basically all free-ranging, her nest is in the grass near a fence. I suppose I'll try taking a few at a time so she doesn't start freaking out lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are basically all free-ranging, her nest is in the grass near a fence. I suppose I'll try taking a few at a time so she doesn't start freaking out lol

Well if she is outside then you might not have to do a thing, predators may take care of mama and any eggs she has. We don't use the word sitting duck lightly. A sitting duck outside here wouldn't last 1 night.