Do broody muscovies crush eggs on purpose?

[campingshaws]

Hi all! I tried searching but couldn't really find the info I was looking for. Last fall I was offered muscovy lings from a neighbor, and in the process rescued eggs from the abandoned muscovy nest. I managed to hatch four of them, two of which were badly crushed though the babies were alive.

Now those scovies from last fall are broody themselves. A few of them have been broody for months, but snakes always got the babies first. Now I finally have lings that are pipped and ready to go, but I went out to check and the "most pipped" baby was in a now crushed shell. Is this something the broodies do to help the babies out? Or is this just a bad habit?

 

[chickens really]

Not sure....I never interfere when they are hatching under Momma.....

 

[sourland]

The only time I have had this happen is when something is disturbing the hen on the nest - like a drake trying to breed her on the nest. It has also happened with hens co brooding in the same nest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Usually it's hard to even break open a Muscovy egg they are so tough, always makes me wonder how those ducklings can get through.

 

[campingshaws]

The only time I have had this happen is when something is disturbing the hen on the nest - like a drake trying to breed her on the nest. It has also happened with hens co brooding in the same nest.

This was overnight: checked at 8:30 pm and had the start of a zip. Checked at 6 am and shell was crushed.

Usually it's hard to even break open a Muscovy egg they are so tough, always makes me wonder how those ducklings can get through.

That's exactly why I'm wondering if mamas do it on purpose.

 

[chickens really]

Is it her first hatch?
Possibly she is...?....She hears them peeping..

 

[campingshaws]

Is it her first hatch?
Possibly she is...?....She hears them peeping..

First hatch on all THREE. I swear they're worse than silkies.

 

[chickens really]

All you can do is wait and see....First time Mommas don't always do things right....Fingers crossed she settles once they hatch....Next time she will be a pro....

 

[chickens really]

My Call Hen set her eggs till they started hatching and then she abandoned the nest...She was terrified of the Ducklings...I tried to give them back to her but she Quacked her head off and hid her face in a corner....I raised them...Lol

 

[campingshaws]

My Call Hen set her eggs till they started hatching and then she abandoned the nest...She was terrified of the Ducklings...I tried to give them back to her but she Quacked her head off and hid her face in a corner....I raised them...Lol

That's one reason I keep check on them. The other reason is snakes. This particular scovy hatched 4 keets at the end of the summer; I found them because keets will leave the nest and wander around looking for ways to die. So I would think she wouldn't be so surprised. I thought about hatching and giving the lings back, but I'm afraid she'd kill them.