Moving broody muscovy

[Christina Skye]

Ok, so we have had a broody Muscovy under our camping trailer. She was a lot smarter than the first duck that tried laying her eggs in the chicken coop, but now we worry about predators once she has her babies.
We have a brooding box, but now the other too duckhens are occupying the space.
Would it be a terrible, horrible idea to move mama from under the trailer to the box with the other two?
Not sure about moving her or her eggs in the first place, but also concerned about too many trying to lay at once in such a small area.
Her babies could be hatching in the next week or so.

 

[sourland]

I have never moved a setting duck without her breaking broodiness - chickens on the other hand no problem. I would let her hatch where she is and then move her and the ducklings. If that is not an option, and it is necessary to move her, have a back up incubator 'just in case'. Good luck.

 

[Christina Skye]

Thank you for your insight. We’ll hold off for now and see how things go.
Like I mentioned, there is two more in the brooding box. If we move them and the one gives up maybe the others will take over her clutch?

 

[sourland]

Thank you for your insight. We’ll hold off for now and see how things go.
Like I mentioned, there is two more in the brooding box. If we move them and the one gives up maybe the others will take over her clutch?

Understand that if that happens one or both hens in the brooding box may leave the nests within 24 to 36 hours of the first duckling hatching. They are 'programmed' to do so that the ducklings get to eat and drink.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They would most likely take on the extra eggs but hatching could be all off.
I wait till hatching begins if I have to move a broody Muscovy by then nothing can pry mine off the nest. And they like privacy so I'd find her another safe spot to hatch.
when moving I take as much of the nest as possible using a shovel with eggs on top. Mom is outside while I do this. Then I put the eggs and nest where I can close mama up she is inside now looking for her eggs so I pick her up and place her inside with her nest and eggs she usually just goes right over and sits back down. Since your mama is outside you will want to get her first and place her in a dog crate till you have everything all settled into her new spot. I have never had a broody duck leave her nest of eggs doing it this way, but all ducks are different so this may not work for you, if it doesn't then give the one ducks eggs[the 2 that are brooding in same place] to the other one if they started brooding at the same time or within a few days of each other and give the other one this mamas eggs so they all hatch at the same time.

 

[thumper650]

Any chance you could run some hardware cloth around the trailer to make a temporary enclosed run until they hatch?

 

[Christina Skye]

Any chance you could run some hardware cloth around the trailer to make a temporary enclosed run until they hatch?

I’m hoping to talk my hubby into doing this. My only concern with this idea though is trapping mama in. She wouldn’t be able to get out to stretch her wings and things she needs to do once a day....

 

[Christina Skye]

Now the two in the broody box don’t seem to stay. 68 degrees out this morning and both mamas were out swimming and having “fun” with the boys... I don’t have much faith that they will be very good mamas.
Hanging on to hope for the mama under the trailer. If we can’t close her in to keep her safe we’ll try and move her once the babies are hatched. They are in such an awkward spot too.... dead center under the trailer.... we’d have to pull the entire trailer out just to get to her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think if you wait till hatch starts you can move her and her nest safely, She most likely won't budge even if you move the trailer. When my OEGB was nesting up under the goose house my dh had to jack the house up to get her out she calmly sat right on her nest while he jacked then I reached in a picked her up. They are pretty dedicated especially when hatch begins.