Move Broody Muscovy in Chicken Nesting Box?

[txbirdlady]

I have a muscovy duck who has just gone broody over the last couple of days. She has decided that the elevated (3 feet off the ground) storage tub nesting box is now her nest. She's not even a year old so I'm not sure how dedicated to this nest she's going to be. I also don't know how many eggs she has under her.
I don't mind her going broody, but I'm not sure that this nest is the ideal spot for hatching. It's 3 feet off the ground in the chicken house and sits directly across from the chickens' favorite nesting box. I have another pen with a house that I can move the broody muscovy to. Should I move her? Should I try to give her more eggs in case she only has a couple under her? Should I break her b/c she's so young?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I let one try to stay in a nestbox last year and it didn't work out too well. Eggs would get kicked out because the nest wasn't big enough, nor deep enough. Nests are best on the ground because they can get pretty big as the hen add bedding and feathers, as well as lots of eggs.

I don't know if you can make her move or not. They generally don't go for that. I personally would break her and let her set elsewhere when she goes broody again in another 4-8 weeks if you want her to hatch.

If you start seeing duck eggs in your nestboxes you may have to put a stop to it asap. I generally need to clip wings to make it stop which is unfortunate, but I haven't found any other way.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Since it’s a storage tub can it be moved? If so and it’s not one of the most pop nesting box you could either move her storage box an all or let her stay till right before hatch then move her to a better place. Problem with her staying there is the chicken possibly laying in her nest that would be 21 days for chicks and 35 for Muscovy pretty big range. Or if you don’t want duckling remove the eggs block the box so she can’t get back in and she may get over being broody. Mine don’t get over it very easily.

 

[Miss Lydia]

As you see we all have different approaches to this situation. What ever works best for our birds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As you see we all have different approaches to this situation. What ever works best for our birds.

I totally missed the part about the storage tub. You are right it may work if the op removes chicken eggs every few days, but I wouldn't want to tangle with a broody muscovy in a tub.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As you see we all have different approaches to this situation. What ever works best for our birds.

I totally missed the part about the storage tub. You are right it may work if the op removes chicken eggs every few days, but I wouldn't want to tangle with a broody muscovy in a tub.

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL. Yep they can be brutal I just wait till they go out and slip in then but I have also had some pretty large bruises from not getting in on time.

 

[txbirdlady]

Yeah I'm pretty nervous about moving her, but I'm more nervous about a chicken getting beat up because they're nesting box is directly across from hers. I could try and move her into the empty duck house (which is basically a dog house with a door and ventilation) and see if she stays or decides she's not that committed to the nest.
Excellent point about the chicken eggs. I would definitely need to make sure that there aren't any chicken eggs under her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’ve moved mine before if they are about to hatch and they have stayed. All are different though and we have to know our own ducks and Brody’s well they are in a class of their own.

 

[txbirdlady]

Okay, thanks y'all. She's off the nest right now and I was able to check for chicken eggs. If she goes back on the nest tonight I will try and move her to the empty duck house tomorrow. If she abandons the nest tomorrow then that's fine. It's so early on in her broodiness that it won't make much of a difference. If she doesn't abandon her nest that's okay too.