How do pekin ducks Brood Naturally, What do I look for ?

[mfog15]

Hello. I am a first timer with Ducks and would like to know, How do pekin ducks Brood Naturally, What do I look for, That lets Me know " Don't take the Eggs & Leave her alone ? "
Thank You.

 

[jdywntr]

Hi and

Unfortunately, Pekin are not typically a broody breed. But that doesn't mean that you won't end up with a duck that doesn't fit the norm.

You would need to leave the eggs in the nest to encourage her to go broody. My ducks will start to sit on the eggs at night before they decide to go broody. Then they will begin setting full time.

If you don't want to just leave all of the eggs she lays, you can let her lay some, say 7-10, and then mark those and remove the newly laid eggs, leaving the marked eggs.

Other than leaving the eggs, the only thing you can do to encourage her is provide a safe, darkened nest area.

 

[ducklover87]

Would just like to add that be careful if she does sit because at anytime she might just leave and not sit again. This has happened with many Pekin ducks. Its horrible to think about but it does happen and I just wanted to give you a heads up. Good luck and hopefully you will get lucky and end up with a broody.

 

[LustyWriter09]

I am just as curious! Since I also only have 1 pekin I was hoping that she would go broody. Though I also have 2 Indian Runners (1 a male), 1 Kaguya, and 1 Mallard drake. I am guessing it would be a tie between my Pekin and Kaguya. Since the third doesnt seem interested. From what I have learned you have to have your female with a willing male for 1 or 2 months first before you plan on trying to let her go broody. So you have a better chance at more fertilized eggs. If not and she had mated maybe once or twice, thats okay. It just means that you would have a probibility of 50/50 or lower to hatch. In a rare or normal occurance in the wild about 7/8th or somewhere along those lines. 2nd, lol oops. You need to know that pekins will sit on a certain amount of eggs and be prepaired to place a few fakes just in case. You'll know why in a second. (Been researching) Pekin ducks seems to like to sit on these number of eggs 7-10, 20, or even 30 or 40 eggs. Yeah I know thats a lot.... And youd be over run if not careful. Unless you want her to? ^-^' Well if you don't you can find fake ones in walmart near easter or craft items, and at Hobby Lobby, or another craft store. It will take 25 or 28-32 days for duck eggs to hatch. Don't worry if the mom will go swiming then sit on the eggs where they get a bit damp. When or if she becomes broody.

She would like a dark and safe area to lay her eggs and make a nest. Sometimes its just to the side or in a corner. Since it had rained where I'm at I had to move her nest. -more like it flooded a bit- If she still tries to go to that same spot though, I would advise you to either fix the area up or make it a little different so you know they wont be sitting in a puddle. Once she makes up her mind she most likely wont change the area she chose. All we can do is make sure shes comphy.

Sadly you also can't rush a Pekin. Like putting all the eggs there and she goes broody at the drop of a hat. Yup won't work lol but my chickens would be estatic if that happened to them. Anyway... It just takes time. Let her go ahead and lay her eggs normally. 1 or 2 eggs every day till how ever many days she wants for the amount of eggs she prefers. If you keep taking an egg out just because you don't want her to lay that many, that gives you a higher chance of her ever going broody. (Hense where the fake eggs come into play) I have noticed that if I hover or stay close to my pekins nest, even when she is not done laying them all, she gets nervous or edgy. So I try to give her some space. Another thing, after a few days you will notice she will try to hide her eggs further by covering them up with twigs or grass or what ever nesting material she has. That means she might go broody! And I have also noticed that the female Pekin, if with a group of other farm ducks will try to guide all of them a little closer to her nest, and would chase my chickens away from her area if she didnt like them crowding over there for too long. My pekin, Annabeth takes turns checking the nest with Auburn, my kaguya. Well, thats as far as I've gotten. Its been 4 or 5 days that I have let them start for a nest. Don't worry if in the middle of the incubation time if one of your chickens actually scare off the mother duck and sit on the eggs instead. Apparently that had happened to someone and their hen hatched them all to the best of her abilities. I'd say they got duck egg envy.

You have to slowly add the fake eggs. Don't know if I have said that yet....

 

[LustyWriter09]

If the pekin looses interest in her nest and bolts it could be from several things. 1) She was spooked. 2) You were hovering to much or she was crowed. 3) She knew something was wrong with the eggs and they would not hatch. 4) A chicken hen ran her off to take over. Or 5) Not enough experience and too much domestication. 6) She lost interest and is not a good broody duck.

Whats funny is that my pekin Annabeth likes to herd my chickens into one area out of boredom, just because, or to keep them safe. One of my drakes joined in helping to. That one drake tries to teach my roosters manners! Lol

So far I have 10 duck eggs in the nest. My Kaguya and Pekin's choice to lay in the same spot. I've replaced a few with chicken eggs too. Hope it works on both our end!

 

[Mstrudster]

Hi,
I am worried about my peking. This is the first time I have raised a duck. She has been sitting on her nest, approx. 3 weeks, it doesn't appear she is eating. I have been putting food and water by her and its gone or spilled the next day, but it could be the other ducks. She is getting so thin and today, she is not very responsive. I don't know if this is normal and am willing to get rid of the eggs if she may die. Any clue if this is normal? Any ideas would be great.

Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi,
I am worried about my peking. This is the first time I have raised a duck. She has been sitting on her nest, approx. 3 weeks, it doesn't appear she is eating. I have been putting food and water by her and its gone or spilled the next day, but it could be the other ducks. She is getting so thin and today, she is not very responsive. I don't know if this is normal and am willing to get rid of the eggs if she may die. Any clue if this is normal? Any ideas would be great.

Thanks

@Mstrudster You need to look under her check those eggs and her this does not sound good or she could have ducklings under her. But when letting your duck sit it is very important to make them get off the nest 1X a day for their own good. But don't put it off go and check under her candle the eggs to see if any are alive and if not get rid of them make her go outside and clean out her nest put in all fresh bedding before you let her go back. I hope she hasn't deteriorated to the point her health is failing. Please post back after you have checked on her

 

[Mstrudster]

Hi Miss Lydia,

Since I posted this, she has gotten off of her nest every day and has gotten in their swimming pool each day and she has begun eating and drinking. I Haven't seen any babies in the nest when she has left or this evening when I checked. So nothing has hatched. Is it possible that none of them will hatch? I can candle the eggs but I don't know what to look for and if there isn't anything to I just toss the eggs? Will she go back to being one of the "normal" ducks...?

Thanks for all your help. I feel much better now and I will candle the eggs tonight and see what I can see.

Mstrudster

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Mstrudster Here is a chart which should help you determine if the eggs are going to hatch..

http://wildliferehabber.com/candling-eggs

So relieved to here she is eating and swimming.

The eggs may not hatch but if you have a drake I'd think some if not all would be fertile How many days now has she been on the nest. 28-30 for mallard derived ducks.

 

[burgandyrae]

How can I tell when it's getting close to the time my pekin babies will arrive?? My mama, Agatha, is sitting on 21 eggs and this is her first time! Her and Sir Arthur (dad) have been fine with my 8 week old chickens running around but since yesterday he's been keeping them away from Agatha and today she only got off the best once, this morning to eat and drink. She didn't even get up when I came near her to check on her like she normally does, she just sorta hissed at me.