Ducks laying on first nest--questions!!

[Chickenkate17]

This is Jemima. She's a just over 9 months old, Cayuga and laying on her first nest...she is also laying on a couple unfertilized chicken eggs, so I will need to get those out when she's up. It looks like she has been pulling out her feathers to help make her nest. Is this possible or is she moulting?? Should I give her some more straw? She's picked a weird spot for her nest, she's right between a fence and a compost bin.




This is Jemima's sister, Josephine. She is also a just over 9 month old Cayuga and she has decided to make a nest between the side of the garage and an old surf board! She is not pulling her feathers out and comes out to eat/drink more often than Jemima. I figured the just have different broody-personalities.


Questions: How long will they lay on their nests? What precautions should I take to make sure the ducks, eggs, and future ducklings will be safe?? At any point should I be concerned about Jemima's feather loss?

Thanks!

 

[PoultryGirly]

The ducks should be on their nests for around 28 days, give or take a few days. Are the eggs fertilized purebreds? Are the ducks' nests secured so no predators can get to them? When the ducklings hatch, you can leave them with your flock or you can separate the broody hens from the others, because sometimes other flock members turn on the babies. You should check Jemima for mites because those cause feather loss. Good luck!

 

[Chickenkate17]

Yes, the fertilized eggs are purebred Cayuga. The nests aren't secured, I put up some blockades for protection, but I'm not sure how to make them 100% secure from predators.....if I move the nests into an enclosed run area will the ducks freak out?

 

[jdywntr]

They pluck feathers when they are serious about being broody, it is normal. If the other is coming out more, she may not be serious about being broody. Not all ducks, even siblings, have the same instincts.

If she is not in a secure area, you need to move her and the nest. This may or may not cause her to abandon the nest but it is that or you risk losing her to a predator, losing the eggs to a predator or losing all to a predator. I always pick the area that I want them to nest in. If they choose an inappropriate area, I move the nest and eggs right away. To be secure, they need to have 4 walls and a roof. They are very vulnerable when setting as they are sitting in the same spot 24/7 for 4 weeks and only getting up once, maybe twice a day.

 

[Chickenkate17]

Ok, I'm going to try to move both girls and their nests into the enclosed run area. Jemima has been pretty hissy with me, so this should be interesting....