LOTS OF QUESTIONS DUCK HATCHING

[DaSouthernYankee]

Okay I’ll try to be as to the point as possible but this is my first clutch of eggs and I’m pretty clueless.

My Pekin (hen) has laid about 17 eggs. I am to assume my Muscovy is the dad because he’s our only drake. I first discovered these eggs around January 30th.

I heard Muscovy ducks may take about 30 days. I want to keep them with mom long as possible. For about 2 weeks now she has been consistently sitting on them. She. She comes out for food I peak in, but haven’t really touched them
Since January when I attempted
To candle them and number them.

I’m Louisiana and it has been warm so I’d prefer them to hatch outside but I do have an incubator I purchased if need be.

So I suppose the eggs are about a month old but are they technically only two weeks if my hen just got broody?

What are signs I need to remove them and basically what intervention should I be prepared for?

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Okay I’ll try to be as to the point as possible but this is my first clutch of eggs and I’m pretty clueless.

My Pekin (hen) has laid about 17 eggs. I am to assume my Muscovy is the dad because he’s our only drake. I first discovered these eggs around January 30th.

I heard Muscovy ducks may take about 30 days. I want to keep them with mom long as possible. For about 2 weeks now she has been consistently sitting on them. She. She comes out for food I peak in, but haven’t really touched them
Since January when I attempted
To candle them and number them.

I’m Louisiana and it has been warm so I’d prefer them to hatch outside but I do have an incubator I purchased if need be.

So I suppose the eggs are about a month old but are they technically only two weeks if my hen just got broody?

What are signs I need to remove them and basically what intervention should I be prepared for?

Absolutely No need to intervene the broody duck knows what she’s doing. Leave them be, let Mother Nature take it’s course. if they hatch they hatch. I have a broody duck sitting on 7 eggs, she’s been sitting on them for two weeks also.
No need for an incubator nor is there need for a brooder if the duck is sitting on them. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[chickens really]

I'd remove the Drake before hatching. Sometimes they kill the Ducklings because they don't understand the peeping.
Provide feed and safe water close to the Hen and Ducklings. I would Candle to see if anything is actually fertile though and remove the dead eggs.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Attempted candling? Did you candle? Muscovies x Pekins have a rather poor fertility rate, and it wold be unfortunate if she sat on those eggs for four weeks from nothing.

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

Absolutely No need to intervene the broody duck knows what she’s doing. Leave them be, let Mother Nature take it’s course. if they hatch they hatch. I have a broody duck sitting on 7 eggs, she’s been sitting on them for two weeks also.
No need for an incubator nor is there need for a brooder if the duck is sitting on them. Good luck with your hatch!

Thank you! I’m just so nervous and wanna know what’s gonna happen!! She went out to eat so I snagged a couple to candle and they all look different to me. I have no idea what they’re supposed to look like. Soooipped em back in the best and she’s back to sitting. I guess we’ll see what happens!!

 

[BullChick]

Your ducklings will be mules. They cannot breed. There is currently a study suggesting otherwise, but that’s another story.
Muscovy hatch in 35 days, but these will be around 30. Mine have taken 31-32 days.
The hen should take care of the eggs and ducklings without an issue. I don’t recommend interfering. Candle if you wish, but her birthing experience should be comfortable for her, not you (said without attitude, I promise!).

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

Your ducklings will be mules. They cannot breed. There is currently a study suggesting otherwise, but that’s another story.
Muscovy hatch in 35 days, but these will be around 30. Mine have taken 31-32 days.
The hen should take care of the eggs and ducklings without an issue. I don’t recommend interfering. Candle if you wish, but her birthing experience should be comfortable for her, not you (said without attitude, I promise!).

This makes lots of sense! I certainly want the process to go as naturally as possible and intervene the least possible. My Cheese (broody hen) is definitely doing her job! She’s always in her nest and hisses when I get too close. So I’m just keeping her food, water, and pond clean. All the other ducks have left the nest be and are not eating or pooping in there so I think it’s a clean happy nest! She kicked out a rotten one so it appears she has some good instincts! Thank you for your reply I’ll keep y’all posted!!!!

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

Your ducklings will be mules. They cannot breed. There is currently a study suggesting otherwise, but that’s another story.
Muscovy hatch in 35 days, but these will be around 30. Mine have taken 31-32 days.
The hen should take care of the eggs and ducklings without an issue. I don’t recommend interfering. Candle if you wish, but her birthing experience should be comfortable for her, not you (said without attitude, I promise!).

Also I Have heard this before about
My ducklings being unable to interbreed with the dad (my Muscovy) but will those baby drakes be able to breed with my other Swedish hen?

 

[BullChick]

No, they won’t. They will be fat, happy poop machines for amusement (or eating) purpose only.

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

No, they won’t. They will be fat, happy poop machines for amusement (or eating) purpose only.

Poop machines for sure!!