Help Me with My Broody Duck: Can I put day old chicks (and ducklings) under her?

[Pullet Press]

Basically, my title says it all.
I have a broody duck who's been sitting on her nest of a dozen UNFERTILE eggs for around 2 weeks now. I've been wanting my poultry to hatch their own young, and since I have no experience in that whatsoever, I'm handing it over to BYC. Could I replace the eggs under her with chicks (probably around a week old)? Could she accept them? Does anyone on BYC know how to sneak chicks under their broody hen/duck? Please help!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Basically, my title says it all.
I have a broody duck who's been sitting on her nest of a dozen UNFERTILE eggs for around 2 weeks now. I've been wanting my poultry to hatch their own young, and since I have no experience in that whatsoever, I'm handing it over to BYC. Could I replace the eggs under her with chicks (probably around a week old)? Could she accept them? Does anyone on BYC know how to sneak chicks under their broody hen/duck? Please help!

she doesn’t have a drake? does she have any duck companions?

 

[Pullet Press]

she doesn’t have a drake? does she have any duck companions?

She doesn't have a drake (I bought 2 straight runs and got 2 females), and she has a sister who's getting pretty lonely without her being right next to her.

 

[Pullet Press]

I first thought that she was just taking longer to lay an egg, but then she started to threaten me when I'd get near her eggs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you put babies under her, only put ones that can swim (geese or ducks) because they'll follow her into the water and drown if they can't swim

 

[Pullet Press]

If you put babies under her, only put ones that can swim (geese or ducks) because they'll follow her into the water and drown if they can't swim

Okay. I was kind of hoping to do half and half (half chicks, half ducks), just because I have a low budget and my feed store has chicks more available. If I can persuade my parents to let me get some ducklings for Pepper, then I will.

 

[Pullet Press]

(Get only ducks, I mean)

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Okay. I was kind of hoping to do half and half (half chicks, half ducks), just because I have a low budget and my feed store has chicks more available. If I can persuade my parents to let me get some ducklings for Pepper, then I will.

you only have to do like 2 babies. that’ll make it easier on her to care for too

 

[Pullet Press]

you only have to do like 2 babies. that’ll make it easier on her to care for too

True. TSC has them for $5 a duckling w/ a minimum of 2. I'm actually going to go there soon anyway, so maybe I can see if they have any. Their chick days are probably over, so my best bet is to get them at my local feed store.
How do you sneak the ducklings under her when you have them? That's the main question I have.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If you restricted water to only enough to clean her nose out, you could try chicks, but I really wouldn't chance it.


Most people tend to wait until at least a week of brooding and then put them under her at night