Each Muscovy hen makes her own nest, right?

[jmc]

I currently have 10 scovy hens--this year's birds.

So I am correct in assuming that, if I keep them all, next spring EACH one will be wanting to make her own nest to lay her eggs in, right?

I believe so--and that is why we will probably not keep all ten.

Any long time keepers of many scovy hens out in duckyland?

tx

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Not usually, muscovies are known to "dump nest" where one bird will start a nest and other birds will use it when she isn't there. We had them for the eggs, provided nest boxes, and it wasn't unusual for us to get 5-6 eggs out of certain favored nest boxes EVERY DAY! i have seen them lined up (figure of speech) to use a favored nest while identical boxes seldom had an egg. Do you object to the number of nests or just don't want to have ten ducks setting at the same time. if it is number of nests try giving them 4 boxes and see what happens.-- A old time keeper of many scovy ducks (females) where many =~100.

 

[lauralou]

My girls used different nest boxes.

I'm absolutely positive that they did, because one was much younger and laid a much smaller egg than the other. So one nest was filled with gigantic adult muscovy hen eggs, and the other was filled with little muscovy "pullet eggs".

Maybe it was because the older duck was very territorial about her nest, and the younger one didn't dare go near it?

 

[keeperofthehearth]

This spring I had two Scovy hens share a nest box. The other two started their own. This second round of nesting was staggard and they all made their own nest sights. That said, goosedragon is right and many times Scovies will "dump nest" according to research out there in Googleland.

You could take out as many eggs as you might want for eating or to sell as fertile eggs and let the girls hatch the rest. That's my plan for next spring & Gwens eggs this time around.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Probably and dominate hens have been known to steal eggs from less dominate ducks too.

 

[spectrumranch]

Quote:
When we have kept muscovies confined to a pen they have nested togehter. They need several nests available but seems several hens always want the same nest.

When they free range around the farm, they each pick their own nesting spot. We have one hen that has nested next to the house and just started on her 3rd hatch this year.

They are very prolific. We had over 40 adult hens this spring- so we have been selling eggs & alot of babies all summer.

 

[troy5775]

My hens will fill up a nest untill a hen starts sitting and then the others will start filling up another nest box. I currently have two hens sitting on the same nest, have been for a couple of weeks now. They have about 20 eggs under them.

 

[jmc]

Thank you so much.

The birds (which my superior wants to keep) will be in a 100 sq. ft. pen for sleeping each night. They will share that with 14 K. Campbells (till I hatch more next year).

Their pasture is about to be expanded from 2300+ sq. ft. to perhaps 5000 sq. ft. for all 25 birds.

I have four breeding pens which are 20 sq. ft. and a 9 sq. ft. nest house I made just for a scovy hen this past spring.

YES MY CONCERN IS WITH HAVING TO PROVIDE TEN SEPARATE GOOD SITES FOR EACH HEN TO MAKE HER NEST IN. We are eating all the eggs.

I am concerned about a hen making a nest in the main 100 sq. ft. pen as ALL the birds will live in there. Certainly don't want too many scovies, at least, making a nest in there (fighting and breakage??)

I want to keep one of the breeding coops avail. for the Campbells which we WILL be breeding next Spring--if the world economy hasn't ended by then!

My concern is ending up having to set up potential nesting sites all over the place for 10 ducks to lay in.

But you all--or most of you--indicate that that probably won't be an issue.

BTW, outside of the main pen and the breeding pens I make DARN SURE that there are no 'cubby holes' in which a hen may start a 'secret egg depository'!

I am so long winded..........