I have chicken and duck eggs in the same nest and have both the chicken and duck sitting. They have been sitting for just short of three weeks. Will the chicken eggs hatch? Will the duck eggs hatch? Do I need to remove the chciken and chicks once they hatch so the duck does not get off her eggs? Any suggestions/help will be appreciated. Will a male Mallard cover a female Muskovy?
I'm no expert but I understand chicken egg usually hatch in about 19-23+ days. Duck eggs need about 28 days or more. Someone with more experience in this would be able to offer better insight. If you mean will those Muscovey/mallard eggs hatch they should be fertile but the offspring will be mules & can't propagate (sp). edited to clarify
If you can get a partition between the two and get only one sort of egg in each half of the nest, I highly suggest it. I have no idea if a duck and a chicken would react like two chickens on the same nest, but two hens will fight over chicks. Mule ducks are so pretty!
Quote:I'm not sure I understand this question. The answer is only if he can catch her and she wants to be 'covered'
I would recommend splitting them up. 1. They may fight over the chicks when they hatch 2. Ducks eggs take longer and you dont want the duck eggs being abandoned when the chickens hatch and 3. Duck mothers take their ducklings to ponds to learn to swim. Duck mothers shouldnt raise chickens in case they drown them!!
Do you mean will the mallard cover the muscovy...genetically? Like will it look like the mallard instead of the muscovy...I have no idea to the answer but im trying to clarify what you mean...i think thats what you meant...
Thanks for all the replies. To answer some of the questions. I have a male mallard to 2 female muskovies. The females are both sitting on eggs so wanted to know if they would be fertile or not. I'm assuming the mallard would have done his thing. I will find out in 5 days. I'm worried if I split the chicken and the duck one will get off the eggs. They are both in a very small thatch hut. I'm hoping to be around when the chicken hatches and remove her and her babies. I will keep you posted
