Okay, so we have several breeds of ducks here and Muscovy's quickly became my favorite species. (Thank you Bleenie!) Anyway, we now have 9 hens of various ages and 4 of them are super duper mothers. I mean really great, won't move off a nest even if a bomb goes off under her, kind of mother. Two others are younger and are a bit flighty yet and don't stay on their nest, and 3 others are even younger yet. It's cold, winter is beginning to set in and a month ago I told hubby that if he found eggs from the Scovy's, please don't let them sit on them, to please bring them inside. (He collects most of the eggs) Now, he brings in the Pekins, the Calls, the Rouens, and the Sebbies, and yesterday we got our first egg from our renewed Runner flock (long story). Anyway, it's beyond me why he just won't bring the Scovy eggs in!!! He nonchalantly told me about a month ago that the 4 Scovy moms were sitting on about 40 eggs in their house and I almost had a coronary when he told me. What he thought we were going to do with 40 new Scovy's, I have no clue. Well that number is greatly reduced due to the number of rat snakes and its more like 17 now. Some of the eggs were laid by the 2 flighty hens, Jasmine & Painted Lady, and aren't fertile so the number that are actually fertile may be less. Today he comes in chuckling that way up high in the loft of the barn, Jasmine has a nest of 8 Scovy eggs! I asked how long he knew she had them. Oh for about a week. I swear I don't know what I'm going to do with him! Laurie
Hug him, lol.. I've done the same thing before but make sure you get those eggs before they hatch out there! I learned the hard way I so miss babies but I'm glad no girls are sitting anymore.
You should swap eggs on him.. If it was me, I'd get some chicken eggs and trade them out and then demand to know what he did when they hatch...
I would say to "check up" on his work. Sneak out there when he's not home or can't see you and check once in a while. Funny story, by the way.
Ohh my! That big soft heart will either get broken or toughen up if things don't go to well with these babies in the winter.
He absolutely loves the Muscovy's and I think its their personality. He also loves the way the mothers will just sit on the nest and not move. But you know what? He has a huge soft spot for our Pekins as well yet he collects their eggs! He has some chairs and a small table set up inside the Pekins run so he can sit there and read and have his coffee while he give them treats. He and the Pekin drakes have a very special relationship that's so cool to watch BUT he still collects the eggs. It may be that the Pekins don't sit on the eggs. I don't know. But I threatened him with bodily harm if he leaves anymore eggs out there. (His response was that he might like it! <eyeroll>) LOL NUT! So my grandson and I will be collect the Scovy eggs from now on. I understand that he has a soft heart but I don't need a zillion Scovy's (which most that hatch out turn out to be drakes anyway!!!!), living here! Laurie
