How could I get a duck broody?

[pringle]

Ok so I really never again want to raise ducks in my house I love them but its just the stench lol.What im doing this year is getting 3 new ducks with the 3 mallards and pekin I already have.I want to cross the new male pekin im getting with the pekin I already have and also cross him with a cayuga im getting.But the problem is is that I dont want to artificially incubate the eggs becouse I dont want to raise the ducklings so is there any way I could somehow get the mallard hens in the mood to incubate eggs and maybe put them in a seperate house to have privacy?thanks

 

[dacjohns]

If you figure out a way to make ducks or chickens go broody you will be a hero.

 

[pringle]

Ok then so im obviously asking for too much.Soo when a duck does go broody can I move it to a different nest site or would it not set anymore?

 

[newchickmom09]

She might. I have read on there about lot of people moving nest to a new spot and the duck being just fine with it when you are done moving her. Others have made the duck really mad and she doesn't want to sit anymore. So basicaly your duck might and she might not. You never know unless you try.

 

[pringle]

Well ok then I have heard also that mallards are especially good brooders and mothers so I hope they wont mind.

 

[Bleenie]

My broody Muscovy hen stole a chicken's nest full of duck eggs...i think it was the sight of all those pretty eggs in 1 spot, lol. She will NOT be moved now, the chicken too..they both freak out, not sure what it is about that 1 box.

Oh, she's currently setting on 4 wooden eggs until i can get some duck eggs.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

You have a good chance those mallards will do the job, just in their own time frame, certainly this spring. Like Bleenie said, a bunch of pretty eggs often has a certain effect on a broody prone hen. You could also get a muscovy or silkie chicken hen, I hear they are relentless broodies.

 

[Bleenie]

I've even had hens go broody on plastic easter eggs... Maybe you could set up a 'full nest' and see if she has any interest in it after a while.

 

[Birdcrazy]

I discovered my scovie's nest of about 4 or 5 eggs right when we were moving them out to their new pen on a different block. she was fine with the move, looked after her eggs and kept laying. She gets broody as soon as she hits a full nest but never abandons eggs or her nest if we touch or move things.

 

[RAREROO]

Yep, it really depends on the breed as far as broodiness too, I'm sure Mallards would be great and I've heard Moscovies are great too. But I have Swedish and Buff ducks that free range and the Buffs go broody all the time, I had one that was barely old enough to lay when she started setting. But one of the key factors is that full nest effect that the others are talking about. Like I said, mine free range, but I know where their favorite nesting spots are (they have a nest started out there now actually that I'm waiting to see who starts setting) but when I find eggs in their spots, I just leave them there and when they get 15-20 or so eggs in the nest, they usually start setting them. So if your hens have a favorite spot or if you can give them a private, secluded spot and put a bunch of eggs in the nest, or dummy eggs to get her started, she should start setting.

You may also want to consider getting a broody bantam hen like silkies to hatch them. They don't care what kind of eggs they set and it's hilarious when their "chicks" start heading off into a mudd puddle.