Illinois...

[NotAFarm]

Right now I have 10 (started with 11 from Rural King). I will be picking up 13 next week from Schlecht Hatchery (friend going with me is getting 12). I use to do 25 at a time, twice a year. Now there are just two of us and doing fewer at a time works better for me.
I am switching this group over to Tamblyn feed now and the next group will be completely raised on it.

 

[BReeder!]

Uh oh! It looks like ducklings are in the making. This duck has been sitting for afew days now and is definitely broody. The noises she makes are bizarre as the place she nested, a scrap pile of roots and things I dug up in the garden along with my fishing net I left out accidentally after using it to catch a turkey that got loose.

I'm wondering if removing the fishing net will disturb the best too much and cause her to stop laying on the eggs. Any thoughts?

Also, @Faraday40 and updates on the duck eggs in your incubator?

 

[Justso]

I say get rid of the net. I would think it would post too much of a danger to her, if she's got up and tangled herself in the net or hatched ducklings who might get caught in the net. If she's really broody it should stick, removing the net and putting her back should be okay.
A VERY HUMBLE OPINION

 

[BReeder!]

I say get rid of the net. I would think it would post too much of a danger to her, if she's got up and tangled herself in the net or hatched ducklings who might get caught in the net. If she's really broody it should stick, removing the net and putting her back should be okay.
A VERY HUMBLE OPINION

Well, I promise she is really broody - with the attitude to let me know too.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

@BReeder!
I too say get rid of the net. Truly broody birds will stick. The biggest question is, is this place safe from anything that would find her tasty? Is there a coop or duck shelter where she can be that might be better?

 

[BReeder!]

@BReeder!
I too say get rid of the net. Truly broody birds will stick. The biggest question is, is this place safe from anything that would find her tasty? Is there a coop or duck shelter where she can be that might be better?

I'm going to try removing the net when I see her off the nest for food/water. She's protected well from ground predators. I will put a panel over the area to protect her from hawks. I have not had a hawk attack a duck, but it's possible.

 

[Faraday40]

@BReeder!
I can't remember exactly how many duck eggs started (8?), but at least one was clear. I have 7 growing and looking good now. I think they're half way - due on the 26th.

Do you want to graft these ducklings on to your broody duck or are you going to let her hatch whatever eggs she's got and brood these incubator ones separately? (If you don't want all the extra ducks, you can always keep the mama broody with golf balls for the next 2 weeks.)


Currently I'm overrun with broody hens. A silkie, 2 seramas, and a giant orp are full broody. Another large orp is also thinking about it.

 

[Molpet]

One broody CX mix broke all her eggs and decided to quit being broody. I have 3 others that are broody and 27 eggs in the Bator.

 

[Molpet]

Also got another raccoon tonight, that's 4 so far.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Currently I'm overrun with broody hens. A silkie, 2 seramas, and a giant orp are full broody. Another large orp is also thinking about it

Same here, but all mine are the "non broody" breeds. 3 spitzies, and yesterday my ccl Sky went. My lone broody orps settled for her one lonely only ee chick. I'm not real sure where all these babies are going to go!