Muscovy ducks

[Joel Brasier]

I have a Muscovy duck that has been sitting on a nest. She hatched one baby but has not left the nest since and it was at around day 38. I tried to get her off her nest and moved into the run and coop but had to move her and her baby back to the nest with fresh eggs under her.

How long will she sit on the nest or is there anything I need to do to get her off her nest?

 

[AquaDuck]

She's not likely to give up sitting if there's eggs in the nest. Are there any more eggs that can hatch now? I'd candle them if I were you. If there aren't any more ducklings to arrive, remove the eggs and "destroy" the nest. Sounds cruel, but it's the only way to help her understand she's done with the sitting part. If she keeps sitting, it's bad for both her and her hatched duckling.

I find water distracts ducks from anything, so plopping her into some water will make her start grooming (watch the duckling so it doesn't drown...) and then close off her access to where the nest was for a while. Treats are helpful distractions too. She'll probably go back to the nest at night, but that's ok. She has to sleep somewhere.

 

[Joel Brasier]

She's not likely to give up sitting if there's eggs in the nest. Are there any more eggs that can hatch now? I'd candle them if I were you. If there aren't any more ducklings to arrive, remove the eggs and "destroy" the nest. Sounds cruel, but it's the only way to help her understand she's done with the sitting part. If she keeps sitting, it's bad for both her and her hatched duckling.

I find water distracts ducks from anything, so plopping her into some water will make her start grooming (watch the duckling so it doesn't drown...) and then close off her access to where the nest was for a while. Treats are helpful distractions too. She'll probably go back to the nest at night, but that's ok. She has to sleep somewhere.

I will try that. I had picked up the old eggs when I put her in the run and coop with her duckling. But she was running around trying to find her nest so when I put her back on the nest I put fresh eggs in there. I candled the old eggs to be sure and after 38 days none were viable anymore. I will have to destroy her nest and put her at the pond.

Thank you so much for the advice.