Do you need a muscovy drake for the hens to go broody?

[ccmarie]

I found some muscovy ducklings for sale that we're going to pick up in a couple weeks. I was thinking I'd get a couple ducks and then buy some extra eggs for them to incubate when they're older, in order to get an unrelated drake. Should I buy a drakeling with them, or would the girls go broody without him? Thanks.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have always had drakes so hard for me to say how much that influences the broody factor. The only problem is there is little point buying eggs for them now, if their ducklings they won't brood till the following year and the eggs would be no good. I believe ideal is under 7 days maybe up to 14 days old, opinions seem to vary.

Now do these people know what sex they are anyways? how old are they? i can usually pick mine out by about 3-4wks but before that unless their sex linked or vent sexed they won't know.

Forgot to add, if you want fertile eggs you obviously either must purchase them or expose the ducks to drakes.

 

[ccmarie]

Yeah, I'd wait until they were old enough before buying eggs. I bought some to hatch this spring but they didn't survive in my incubator, so I thought if the girls would go broody on their own maybe they'll do a better job than I did.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have understood they can be a bit hard to hatch. I've only used live ducks, it usually works pretty well, almost to good.. there a bit broody mad.