Mother-Hen-Michele
Crowing
Hi, I had a horrible cold snap here so I had to keep everyone inside while the weather calmed down. My drake got too 'eager' being locked up all day and plucked his hen's neck much too aggressively. I separated them (window between) but they had to stay indoors.
I worried about many things (like cold and fresh water and her injuries on her neck), but I did not worry about collecting the duck's eggs. I thought vaguely that it gave her something to do. (My hens don't have a rooster so when they sit on eggs there is never a concern)
(You have the benefit of hindsight here...)
So, as you figured out, she has now gone full broody on me. I never had a male/female combo, so these are my first fertile eggs. I am not sure the mating was "successful" he mostly seems pretty incompetent at inserting himself (really good at plucking though).
I don't especially want babies, but if they have started to develop I feel badly about killing them. How long before I can check the eggs to know if they are fertile? I don't have any special equipment on hand. I don't know if it helps to say, both drake and hen were born June 1, so they are 8 months old.
I worried about many things (like cold and fresh water and her injuries on her neck), but I did not worry about collecting the duck's eggs. I thought vaguely that it gave her something to do. (My hens don't have a rooster so when they sit on eggs there is never a concern)
(You have the benefit of hindsight here...)
So, as you figured out, she has now gone full broody on me. I never had a male/female combo, so these are my first fertile eggs. I am not sure the mating was "successful" he mostly seems pretty incompetent at inserting himself (really good at plucking though).
I don't especially want babies, but if they have started to develop I feel badly about killing them. How long before I can check the eggs to know if they are fertile? I don't have any special equipment on hand. I don't know if it helps to say, both drake and hen were born June 1, so they are 8 months old.