hen brooding 6 duck eggs - do I add dummy eggs to make up to 12?

[ejctm]

Hi there,
Can anyone answer my question? I have a hen who went broody and I bought some fertilised duck eggs for her to incubate and raise. I don't want too many ducks, so only bought 6. She was broody for a week before I got the eggs, so seems well and truly settled (I put some round stones under her which kept her happy). Now the eggs are under her and the stones are gone. I also got 6 dummy eggs which arrived today, and wondered if I needed to increase her clutch with these eggs to make it up to 12 or will she sit for the whole time on only 6? I'm worried that she might not think she has enough to stay on them? I also think that she might know the difference and kick them out or worse still give up on sitting?

What do you think?

EJ

 

[SouthernChick]

I wouldn't worry about it, she should be fine.

 

[panner123]

It is not necessary to have a dozen eggs under the hen. If she is ttuly broody, she will stay on the nest with only one egg.

 

[ejctm]

Thanks, that has put my mind at rest!
EJ