molting or depressed duck--with a happy ending

[chicks4fun]

Okay, this is my update.
My poor ducky is still staying in her nest except she comes out once a day to eat & take a quick dip. I think, or hope, she is just broody. Soooooo---I bought a few fertile duck eggs from craigslist & put them under her. She is sitting on the eggs & growls whenever I try to look at her. She still takes a quick trip out in the morning to bathe & eat.
I bought the only close by eggs and they will be mutts. I have no idea when to expect the hatch because they could be pekin, muscovy, Khaki campbell, or a mixture. I read the pekins hatch nearly a week earlier than a muscovy. Should be interesting. I hope at least 1-2 hatch (she is sitting on 5) and maybe she will raise her new best friend.
In July I will update.

 

[Amiga]

Thanks for the update! Might want to locate an incubator to borrow (even nicer, someone who will run it for you) in case she gets out of her broodiness before they hatch.

Aside from that, I think things are likely to work out, barring unexpected events.

 

[chicks4fun]

Thanks, I do have a friend with an incubator. If it comes to that I will be asking for help. I've heard ducks are harder to hatch than chickens. I have a chicken who keeps trying to get in the box with her. I finally just locked her up in the run with the young chickens to keep her away from the duck.
I wonder if I should put the duck, nest & all, in a large dog kennel to keep the chickens away from her????

 

[Amiga]

That is worth serious consideration. But will moving her upset the whole process?

 

[chicks4fun]

That is why I haven't moved her yet---I'm afraid to upset her.
I have no idea the best thing to do. I tried to block the chickens off but that didn't work---I found TWO chickens in her box! Ducky is in an old cat litter box with a lid, she chose the box so I've let her have it. I even tried to put another one in the coop hoping the chickens would use that one but no go---they love to be in with the duck. What's with that?

 

[Amiga]

How about getting ahold of one of those puppy pens you can just set up around her? Cannot imagine chickens getting into that.

 

[LilyAshley11]

Yo can buy another duck?

 

[chicks4fun]

Yo can buy another duck?

Tried that----I was given another duck---she ran it off! It was a muscovy who got tired of being quacked at, seemed like a duck yelling "get out of here" & the new duck flew away!
This is Plan B, I am letting her hatch her own new best friends. I really don't know what else to do. She is happily sitting on her eggs right now. When I check on her she gets up a little but it sound like she is growling at me. I think it is going well----this is my first hatching of ducks.
I am looking for ideas to make a duck house---she has five eggs & I could end up with six ducks!

 

[chicks4fun]

How about getting ahold of one of those puppy pens you can just set up around her? Cannot imagine chickens getting into that.

Hummm, it's a thought. . . . I will check on these the next trip to the pet store. Thanks for the idea.

 

[LilyAshley11]

Tried that----I was given another duck---she ran it off! It was a muscovy who got tired of being quacked at, seemed like a duck yelling "get out of here" & the new duck flew away!
This is Plan B, I am letting her hatch her own new best friends. I really don't know what else to do. She is happily sitting on her eggs right now. When I check on her she gets up a little but it sound like she is growling at me. I think it is going well----this is my first hatching of ducks.
I am looking for ideas to make a duck house---she has five eggs & I could end up with six ducks!

Good luck!