Do Male Ducks Sit on nest? w/Pic

[Orca5094]

I have no experience with domestic male ducks sitting on eggs, but I can confirm that some wild species do share in the incubation duties. I used to be an Avian Keeper at a zoo and had several different male Whistling Ducks (Cuban, Spotted, etc) that would take turns with the females in incubating the eggs.

 

[jaster1605]

I have a Khaki Campbell Drake and he builds nests and sets on eggs like just a female, in fact I just threw out a bunch of bad eggs yesterday because him and one of the female rouens were fighting over a nest. The day before yesterday I noticed that one of them had built a new nest and they split up the eggs, when I candled them none of them looked alive though so I threw them out.
I searched and found this thread not to find out if drakes will sit but to see if anyone has had a drake successfully hatch a nest of eggs?

 

[tmain]

We had our mallard drake disappear last night, no dign, walked our 6 acres, so sound. Thought he was taken by a fox, then this morning he appeared! Could he have been laying on eggs? I've found several nests and if quick enough I take the eggs, but this time I can't find the nest yet. Maybe he was being really quiet and nesting?

 

[tmain]

I have no experience with domestic male ducks sitting on eggs, but I can confirm that some wild species do share in the incubation duties. I used to be an Avian Keeper at a zoo and had several different male Whistling Ducks (Cuban, Spotted, etc) that would take turns with the females in incubating the eggs. 

So, do you think my mallard could have been sitting, even though he is domesticated, and was born in a coop?

 

[Orca5094]

I highly doubt it. It's more likely your guy was scared off by something (a predator passing by for example) and was hiding someplace he felt safe. Birds find a nice place to roost at night and don't typically move around after dark. Once the sun came up, he returned home. Glad your guy came back!

 

[Duck Drover]

We had a drake sit on a nest while the hen took a break but not full time. He is not hormonal enough to have the right body temperature to hatch the eggs but he can keep them from getting cold and keep predators such as crows from stealing eggs since they will patiently wait for the hen to get off the nest and leave the eggs unprotected. I am sure not all drakes are as invested in sharing parental duties but it is nice to see some of them take an interest in the eggs and not just the hen.

 

[BreenaAndTony]

Hello, I'm new to BYC. This post looks a little old but I thought I'd chime in and say that I'm not sure about all breeds, but my free range Pekin Drake does indeed sit on his hens nest. She is in the process of laying now (one per day). We're at 8 eggs and while she will not lay on her nest until she is satisfied with the number of eggs in it, he lays on it the majority of the day. I know, sounds odd. Some will say "are you sure your Drake is a Drake?" Absolutely, positively, no doubt in my mind! Not only was he vented, but also has his Drake feather and call. Maybe some of us just have an odd couple, who knows? But to answer the question, yes, pekin drakes will lay on a nest.

 

[Orca5094]

Hello, I'm new to BYC. This post looks a little old but I thought I'd chime in and say that I'm not sure about all breeds, but my free range Pekin Drake does indeed sit on his hens nest. She is in the process of laying now (one per day). We're at 8 eggs and while she will not lay on her nest until she is satisfied with the number of eggs in it, he lays on it the majority of the day. I know, sounds odd. Some will say "are you sure your Drake is a Drake?" Absolutely, positively, no doubt in my mind! Not only was he vented, but also has his Drake feather and call. Maybe some of us just have an odd couple, who knows? But to answer the question, yes, pekin drakes will lay on a nest.

Aww, that is so cute he shares the egg care duties! Thanks for sharing your experience, and welcome to BYC!

 

[MilleFluersRus]

I have a blue runner duck Drake that I've spotted once or twice setting on an egg. He never stays because he is constantly pestering the chickens about coming close to his egg. The mom (a crested mallard) usually handles the brooding

 

[efficacy]

For what its worth, just spotted a semi-wild mallard drake sitting: