Muscovy duck trying to nest

[Going Quackers]

when my one hen first started there were well over 10 now she's done to 6... I like the idea of marking them i may do that too.. as "someone" has started a nest and while i may let it kick off i don't need a ton coming from it...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does it not disturb her too much if you go poking around?? I must admit I checked today and madam has 'placed' them in a circle in her bedding and there is an extra egg for the past two days as well

They don't like you poking around but you do what you have to to keep the population in check. I usually have some nice blood blisters where she has pinched the daylights out of my hand. lol

 

[DrChickenKev]

They don't like you poking around but you do what you have to to keep the population in check. I usually have some nice blood blisters where she has pinched the daylights out of my hand. lol

Aww I can imagine!

Well mine is bedding down for a couple hours then coming out to play again... I think she is still building up her nest of eggs

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww I can imagine!

Well mine is bedding down for a couple hours then coming out to play again... I think she is still building up her nest of eggs

Thats what they do, i have one doing that too she is going in in the evening and gets on her clutch of 5 at the moment. My one that is setting didn't get serious till I moved her away from her sister, evidentally they don't like to brood with company. Soon as I gave her her own space she settled right down. she had 10 when she was through but I took 3 away.

 

[DrChickenKev]

Thats what they do, i have one doing that too she is going in in the evening and gets on her clutch of 5 at the moment. My one that is setting didn't get serious till I moved her away from her sister, evidentally they don't like to brood with company. Soon as I gave her her own space she settled right down. she had 10 when she was through but I took 3 away.

Hmm, except my naughty girl decided to jump out of her pen last night, and then so did the drake, so all were together...

Then she jumped out again this morning, so I've put a make-shift roof of trellis over her.. hopefully will help

But I didnt want to leave her alone without being able to see the others, but I might have to....???

Any thoughts?

 

[ian4379]

heres the link to the article, it about cross breed muscovy but somewhere in there it has the info on sperm storage, sounds gross!

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00071669888791#preview

 

[DrChickenKev]

heres the link to the article, it about cross breed muscovy but somewhere in there it has the info on sperm storage, sounds gross!

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00071669888791#preview

Cheers, I'll have a read a bit later

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hmm, except my naughty girl decided to jump out of her pen last night, and then so did the drake, so all were together...

Then she jumped out again this morning, so I've put a make-shift roof of trellis over her.. hopefully will help

But I didnt want to leave her alone without being able to see the others, but I might have to....???

Any thoughts?

Mine can come and go anytime they want, they just like it private where they brood. if you want to keep her in I would put something over the top.

 

[DrChickenKev]

Mine can come and go anytime they want, they just like it private where they brood. if you want to keep her in I would put something over the top.

Yup, normally they're altogether, but I remember with our Silkies that she wouldnt nest while her cockerel was wanting attention, so we spereated and locked her in...

So thinking along the same lines, I tohught it best to seperate from the drake although she keeps trying to get out - thats the trouble when theyve experienced free roaming in the garden... anyway, I have a make shift roof of trellis and netting, I might block her view to the others as well if it doesnt work, as she seems to go and nest while there are no other 'distractions'

??

 

[DrChickenKev]

Well she has spent the weekend almost completely nesting, and came off once or twice per day to get some food, water and a stretch of legs before returning back to nest

So, I am boldly declaring this as Day 3 and I hopefully around 18th-20th May we should be looking at around 10-12 little yellow n brown muscovy ducklings....

I'll keep you posted... especially Miss Lydia as I know she likes a few days' notice so she can stock up on popcorn to watch with...