Hoping for a Broody Duck

[sparkleeyes]

We have two Mallard ducks that we got a few weeks back. A drake and a hen. They've settle in nicely. They are able to head out to the stream on their own, and waddle back on the lawn to free range with the chickens. Husband has built them a new barn style coop, she has her nest inside with 10 eggs at the moment.

We're always keep an eye out for when she will get "broody". Husband leaves the eggs for a few days and the question is always asked, "should I bring them in, or leave them there?" Right now the hen doesn't mind leaving them for a good part of the day and free ranging in the yard, then she sits on them at night. We thought maybe she's just waiting for a big enough brew of eggs before she settles in to 'nest' and bring them out, but if she sits on them all night, every night, wouldn't that process be already started with the heat from her body.... and then to leave them all day....

So should we bring those eggs in the house, to eat, or to keep for her until she's broody.

What are we to do??????????

 

[Amiga]

I hope a hatcher checks in soon.

But my experience is that most of my ducks - which are mallard-derived - either don't get broody, or only get semi-broody. I have three who will sit for a month.

But up till now the eggs have been unfertilized, so it hasn't mattered.

If you want ducklings, you may need to take matters into your own hands. What kind of condition the eggs would be in at this point, I cannot say.

There is a thread called Thread Formerly Known as Hatch Day is Today you may find interesting. It's a big one, but there is an option to search within the thread for phrases.

 

[jdywntr]

If she is setting on the eggs at night she may be considering going broody. Mine (muscovy) start to set at night before deciding to go broody full time. Mallards are suppossed to be good broodies and good mothers.

If you are removing all or most of the eggs then that may be throwing her off. Removing them every few days is probably not a good idea. What I do is just leave the eggs, mark them, and then if nobody goes broody, remove them after a while. But I have chickens for eggs so don't mind the waste of eggs.

If you really want ducklings, and have a plan for 1-15 ducklings, then I'd just let her lay some, mark them and leave it be.

 

[sparkleeyes]

Well we finally did leave the eggs, until there were 12 or 13, and she finally decided it was worth her while to sit!!! It's been about 8 or 9 days now. We are sooooo excited to have some little ducklings. Over the moon!

One interesting thing though, the last three days she's "flurked" an egg out of the nest onto the floor of the barn. We took each inside and candled them out of curiosity to see what was going on in there. We saw veins but no destinguishable movement or formation. The last one we put inside the incubator, just in case.

Is it possible that she knows these eggs are not viable????

 

[jdywntr]

Congrats on the broody. I think many ducks, especially first time moms, tend to fuss about their eggs so much that one may be accidentally rolled out. I've always just stuck them back under her. I don't candle and just leave it up to nature.

At this stage, I don't think that she'd know if they were "bad". Many ducks will kick eggs out that are infertile or die during incubation. I think it may be a smell (though I've heard birds can't smell). I've never had a bad egg kicked out, just left after hatch in the nest.

Hoping for a good hatch.
I have 3 sitting on nests right now. No idea what I was thinking allowing that.