Help!!! Pekin became broody while on vacation...

[Proud Momma]

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Hi We have 3 pekins 1 female, 2 males. They are 21/2yrs old. She has been producing pretty much daily since she was about 8 mo old. and has caredless about the eggs. Everything I've read says they are not broody so we took them and ate them, yummmm. We went on vacation for a week, two weeks ago and when we came back she had 11 eggs but 4 were in the nest warm as can be and the rest were pushed out. I took the pushed out ones I have seen her sitting every morning until around 10 then she is eating, in the pond, etc. I put food coloring dots on them with a q tip so I can tell what is new, she is still laying everyday and I remove the new ones. What do I do? Should I devide the enclosure to keep the boys away from her and her nesting house? It is big enough that I can add a second pond just for her. Double up on food and drinking water, etc. Please Help!! I was not counting on this since they are not broody. But definitally want to do what is best for her and the babies. I'm not sure what the exact day of laying was so I counted 28 days from the day we came back. Due Date Aug 22nd. Although maybe I should count from the day we left, so Aug 15. Thank you ahead of time for your help.

 

[learycow]

You can always just let it play out and see what happens
Pekins are not known to be broody, but I have 2 that have already hatched out a clutch this year, and they are both on 6 eggs right now due in another few weeks.
Keep an eye on her. If she decides she doesn't want to hatch them, you may want to take the eggs and put them in an incubator.
My suggestion would be to leave her alone for now. If the drake or other hen start to bother her, then I would separate them. but if they aren't causing her to be stressed, then there's no need to separate them.

 

[Proud Momma]

Thank you so much for your help. I am only concerned about separating because I read of one persons males killing the babies the first day. And as I said, I am not sure of the due date.

 

[learycow]

You can always separate the male just to be safe. If you can, try to make a pen near the other ducks that way he isn't lonely. Or you could always section off the female on eggs if that's easier. Then you won't have to worry about it

 

[Proud Momma]

Hi

Their enclosure is big enough that I think separating it with her and her duck house on one side and the boys on the other side. The space is about 12'x20' overall. The boys will get the pond but I can add a kiddie pool on her side. Double up on water and food. and when I am out in the garden (a few hours each day) they get free run of the whole thing. If the eggs do hatch I will split up their garden time between the boys and Momma with babies.

If we wait and wait and nothing happens with the eggs, what should we do? If the due dates are between Aug 15th and 22nd by the end of Aug. should we pull the eggs? Will it destress her? How do we ease that for her?

She is still laying everyday. I have marked the 4 with food coloring and am carefully not touching them while I collect the others. Does that sound about right?

 

[Proud Momma]

OH NO!! Something got 2 of the eggs. I found shell in the corner of the enclosure and a smashed one in the nesting box.

She has been very noisey today. Typically, she is pretty quiet. What do I do just leave the other 2 and see what she does?

 

[Majd]

yes just keep them and they have already babies in if she doesn't go off them but make sure that rats are not getting the eggs!!

 

[Proud Momma]

thanks for your help. We don't have rats. We had a skunk a while back but reenforced the enclousure and haven't had any problems for a long time.

 

[Majd]

that's great any improvements?

 

[Proud Momma]

No. Do you suppose she is upset and that is why she has been so loud today? Do you think the drakes did that to the eggs?