Is My Duck going Broody????

[pirtykitty]

I have a female Welsh Harlequin who is 10 months old... the last two days there hasn't been any eggs in the nesting box... This morning I went out after breakfast ( hubby had let them out earlier ) and I couldn't find Daisy anywhere... no feather nothing... I finally noticed movement behind brush pile by privacy fence.. She is hunkered down there between the brush pile and privacy fence. Could she be holding her eggs until she's let out and going over there to lay them???? and then hatch later??? or is she to young to be wanting to be a mom..
Stanley followed me all around the yard nipping at the back of my leg. LOL.. then going back to foraging..

 

[Wifezilla]

She may be having some broody urges though it may take a while to totally kick in. What a duck normally does is lay a clutch of eggs and then seriously set. She may have hidden her previous eggs in that brush. She wont stop laying until she is completely broody.

I get the same treatment from Tweak. He keeps going after my heals as soon as my back is turned.

He is just trying to be a good duck daddy!

 

[pirtykitty]

I get a kick out of it.. Him following me around... He also does it when I come out with goodies... Do you think that she is really holding the eggs in till we let them out.. around 8 or 9 in the morning
I'd be tickled pink for her to go broody and hatch some ducklings. I'd like a couple more females .. but wonder how I'll get her to set them inside the night pen where I can keep her safe at night.. I don't like the idea of leaving her out at night to hatch any.. guess I'll work that out if it happens

 

[Wifezilla]

Those Welsh Harlequin drakes are a crack-up. They are all of 5 pounds and think they are velociraptors or something.

I have to be careful not to trip on him when he is acting all protective. A couple of times I picked him up to remind him that I AM THE TOP DUCK. He gets all embarrassed when I do that but by the next day he is at it again

 

[pirtykitty]

Stanleys nearly tripped me too a couple times... I pick him up and love on him or haul him to the night pen if it's time to go there... Yep he's up and doing it all again the next day. LOL..

 

[pirtykitty]

She got on the hidden nest about an hour after I let her out of the night pen... I think stayed on it for a little while then left. and went back a little later.. about 10:30 she went and got back on it.. won't be able to check it till she leaves and goes out of sight to front flower bed in back yard.. she has the two eggs from the 1's and 2nd just in a hollowed out place in leaves.. When do you think she will start using feather and also should I place some straw close by for her or let her look for nesting items on her own..

 

[Wifezilla]

I would give her some straw. This is her first nest and it might take a while for the instincts to totally kick in. Plus she is a domestic duck. Sometimes they don't quite get it

 

[pirtykitty]

She went back again about 10:30 and stayed till about noon. Can't tell if she's layed a 3rd egg or not.. Do I place the straw close to the nest?? or move the eggs and place under them. thanks

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

Shoot, I just posted about my welsh harlequin going broody for the first time! She is fully sitiing but I am not quite sure what I should do to help