I set a broody hen with duck eggs tonight...We now have DUCKLINGS!

[Sunny Side Up]

...when do you think I can expect them to hatch? I've never tried this before, so wish my little broody hen great success. She's a mixed-breed bantam named Biscuit who loves to hatch eggs and has successfully set several clutches of chicken eggs already. And she's a good Mama afterwards, we're looking forward to watching her tend a family of ducklings.

I had her getting ready in her private nesting accomodations setting on a few bantam eggs. Tonight I took out those eggs & replaced them with 6 eggs from my Khaki Campbells. She tucked them deep beneath her, and then did the chicken cha-cha getting them all settled in just right.

I hope by the time the ducklings hatch I will be able to post photos for you all to see.

 

[shortcake1806]

I'm right there with you. I just put 7 golden cascades under a broody. I believe they take 28 days to hatch. Crossing my fingers for a great hatch for both of us.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Duck eggs take about 28 days to hatch

 

[headred]

Sounds pretty exciting!!

 

[Lorettawyandotte]

good luck with those...I am expecting a hatch of goslings this week end from my PR hen...she has been working hard on those huge eggs...there are three...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I set the eggs the night of May 25, and this morning, June 21, the ducklings are hatching! So far 4 of the 6 eggs have hatched, the other 2 aren't even pipped yet. I haven't bothered Biscuit by candling her eggs, so tonight I'll check those remaining eggs if they don't show any activity.

We are so proud of this little hen, and so enamored with these adorable newborn duckies. We've never seen newborn ducks with the egg tooth & everything, only "day-old" ducks from the hatchery who are really 2-3 days old already.

Biscuit is still fluffed out on the nest, but the ducks are active & squirming over, under & around her. She's been in a private little cage for brooding, and that cage is in a larger pen with other bantams, mama hens & their chicks. Do you think the other chickens would bother the baby ducks? Should I keep them in a separate cage for safety, until the ducks grow bigger?

 

[racuda]

My cochin hatched out 3 call ducklings about a week ago. None of the other chickens have bothered them so far.

 

[austinhart123]

can we see pics?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I wish I could, I'll try to have some soon. Today it looked so cute, the hen was sitting on the ground wanting her kids to snuggle close, and they were all standing around her as if to say "Hey Mom, let's go to the POOL, what d'ya say?" And later, she was scratching in the dirt & calling "Buk buk buk BUK!" and the ducks were just oblivious to her call. I kept them all in the little brooding pen today, for certain safety, I'll let them out with supervision in another day or two.