Can a Broody Hen Hatch Ducklings?

[fowl farm]

If she goes broody before that. If she starts sitting on her nest, you might be able to switch the eggs out.

And keep in mind, a duck isn't like a chicken. They need a certain amount of eggs in their nest to go broody, whereas a chicken will sometimes go broody on an empty nest

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

Is it normal for the girl duck to lay an egg and leave it?

 

[fowl farm]

Yes. If they aren't ready to go broody and hang around their nest, it would attract unwanted attention. Does your duck keep laying eggs in the same nest? Or does she flat-out leave it and never go back?

 

[jdywntr]

As stated in previous post, ducks wait for more eggs before going broody. Even chickens, except for VERY broody ones, lay eggs, leave the nest and keep laying until they feel they have enough to set on.
It would be highly unlikely that your duck would accept even the eggs. She would have to be broody and have been setting for quite some time when they hatched. A duck that is presented with unexpected ducklings is very likely to kill them as she will not see them as her babies.

You can sprinkle the eggs daily, lightly sprinkle them while under the chicken just in case. As someone else said, the chicken will need to raise them unless you want to brood them yourself.

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

Yes. If they aren't ready to go broody and hang around their nest, it would attract unwanted attention. Does your duck keep laying eggs in the same nest? Or does she flat-out leave it and never go back?

We found three eggs in the same nest, and is still laying eggs in the same nest. But wouldn't leaving the eggs alone kill the babies. It is quite nippy outside in Florida.

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

i'm worried about letting the bantam raise the ducks, because then the ducks will not know how to swim. And they will dust bathe, and learn chicken things, like scratching.

 

[sourland]

i'm worried about letting the bantam raise the ducks, because then the ducks will not know how to swim. And they will dust bathe, and learn chicken things, like scratching.

Wrong, none of this will happen. Nothing is more funny than the hysterics of a hen raising ducklings the first time her 'kids' go for a swim. People allow hens to raise ducklings as well as other poultry all of the time with great success.

 

[fowl farm]

We found three eggs in the same nest, and is still laying eggs in the same nest. But wouldn't leaving the eggs alone kill the babies. It is quite nippy outside in Florida.

No, don't worry about that. My eggs survived through cold weather. Since they haven't started developing yet it won't matter. That's another reason she won't sit until her nest is filled. Trust your duck! Sourland is right. They might hang out with the chickens, but they are called waterfowl for a reason.

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

But im not sure my mom would like 12 ducks running around in the backyard.

 

[sourland]

Well, then don't incubate the eggs eat them in a grand omelet or bake a wonderful cake. Not difficult.