My sweet duck Violet (a Runner/Buff cross) started acting broody yesterday, so I let her keep yesterday's eggs (one from her, one from her flockmate Primrose) hoping she'd add more. Today there are two more, one from each, and Violet is sitting tight and hissing at me. I want her to sit on as many as possible, so how long should I allow Primrose to keep adding eggs to the nest? I read somewhere that a duck can lay 3-4 more eggs after going broody, so should I let Primrose add eggs for as long as Violet continues to lay? Happily for me they lay different colored eggs so it's easy to tell whose is whose. I assume once Violet's done laying and broody for good I should set up an alternate nest for Primrose. Do I have this right? I'm very excited at the prospect of ducklings!
Also, so long as Primrose starts laying elsewhere when I give her another nest, is it okay to let Violet stay with the rest of the flock until hatching day approaches? I know I need to protect the babies from the others when they hatch (there are just the two hens and one drake), but I assume for now she can sit for the next couple of weeks in the coop with the others in with her at night.
Also, so long as Primrose starts laying elsewhere when I give her another nest, is it okay to let Violet stay with the rest of the flock until hatching day approaches? I know I need to protect the babies from the others when they hatch (there are just the two hens and one drake), but I assume for now she can sit for the next couple of weeks in the coop with the others in with her at night.
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