Butterscotch is broody

[My15Ducks]

My duck, Butterscotch, is broody! I was surprised because it’s July and before she has always nested much earlier in the year. But yesterday I found she had a beautiful feather lined nest, and she’s been sitting on it since yesterday.

She’s an excellent mom. Last year she hatched out 22 ducklings and 20 survived. I was not planning on hatching more ducklings until my new duck pasture was ready- but I’m also ok with having more ducklings - so I’m just going to let her try. Butterscotch is a mixed breed - Silver Appleyard, probably some mallard and Buff, and probably some other breeds.

I have an incubator on standby if she abandons the nest.

My top concern is that she is in a pen with my other ducks and drakes. I was planning on moving all the ducks to their new pasture in a couple weeks. The drakes will have a bachelor pen in the new pasture. But now I’m concerned that Butterscotch will be very upset if I move her friends out. On the other hand, I don’t want the drakes to bother her. I might be able to carefully remove the drakes without stressing her - and then when the ducklings hatch move her and babies to a new pen.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly and I can post cute pictures in 27-28 days!

 

[sourland]

Good luck for a successful incubation and hatch. I think that I would separate the drakes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My females like their privacy when brooding I keep all of my flock separate from her. She can see them and they can see her but my Muscovy will chase and beat the tar out of anyone that comes close to her ducklings. I doubt she will miss the drakes.

 

[My15Ducks]

My females like their privacy when brooding I keep all of my flock separate from her. She can see them and they can see her but my Muscovy will chase and beat the tar out of anyone that comes close to her ducklings. I doubt she will miss the drakes.

I don’t think she’ll miss the drakes - I’m more concerned about the stress of catching them bothering her. But maybe if I do it at feeding time and just grab a couple drakes it won’t bother her too much

 

[My15Ducks]

Here’s her cute nest. I think as a temporary solution I’ll put a fence around her nest. I know that will irritate her too, but hopefully not enough to cause her to abandon the nest

 

[My15Ducks]

 

[My15Ducks]

Day 8.
7/8 eggs are developing nicely! A few look more advanced, but there shouldn’t be more than 24 hour age difference. If I need to, I can hatch any stragglers in my incubator.

Butterscotch is being a good mom and I put a fence up to keep the other ducks out of her nest. I don’t plan on candling much, but I’m going to check the one egg that looks like an early quitter again in about a week

 

[My15Ducks]

Day 13 and 7/8 eggs are developing great! I removed the infertile/early quitter egg.

The only thing I’m worried about is there is a tropical storm possibly going to develop nearby, and impact Hawaii this weekend with heavy rain. Butterscotch’s nest is not under shelter, and while she has already withstood minor rain, heavy rain might flood the nest. I’m pretty sure she won’t let me move her nest.

I’m thinking of putting her eggs in my incubator and giving her some fake eggs to sit on, and then giving her eggs back to her after the storm is over. I’m worried about the eggs having a shock switching to the artificial environment of my incubator but it’s a better chance than getting soaked

 

[Miss Lydia]

Day 13 and 7/8 eggs are developing great! I removed the infertile/early quitter egg.

The only thing I’m worried about is there is a tropical storm possibly going to develop nearby, and impact Hawaii this weekend with heavy rain. Butterscotch’s nest is not under shelter, and while she has already withstood minor rain, heavy rain might flood the nest. I’m pretty sure she won’t let me move her nest.

I’m thinking of putting her eggs in my incubator and giving her some fake eggs to sit on, and then giving her eggs back to her after the storm is over. I’m worried about the eggs having a shock switching to the artificial environment of my incubator but it’s a better chance than getting soaked
View attachment 3925051

She must have washed those eggs before she began to sit. They are so pretty and clean.

 

[My15Ducks]

I put the eggs in the incubator and gave Butterscotch 6 eggs from the store which I assume are infertile. She was doing a good job keeping them dry but we could get 10 inches or more of rain and it’s already raining hard. I ran the incubator for 48 hours before putting the eggs in, but now of course the humidity is a bit low. It was fine before