Muscovy is broody but not laying

[TheQuackHouseCW]

My one females has been broody for almost 2 weeks but she has not been laying... can i put eggs from the other females in her nest? Can i collect them for a few days and put them all in nest at once or should I be adding them the day they are laid?? never had this happen before

 

[NatJ]

My one females has been broody for almost 2 weeks but she has not been laying...

That is normal.

The usual pattern for almost any kind of bird: lay an egg every day or so until there are about the right number in the nest, then go broody and sit on them without laying any more eggs. When they hatch, switch from sitting to raising babies.

So once she goes broody, she typically does not lay more eggs (sometimes one or two more, but not many.)

can i put eggs from the other females in her nest?

Yes.

Can i collect them for a few days and put them all in nest at once or should I be adding them the day they are laid??

It is better to collect the right number of eggs, and put them all in the nest at once. That way they all hatch at once, and she can switch from sitting on eggs to raising babies.

While you are collecting eggs, keep them somewhere that is not especially hot or cold. Room temperature is usually fine. The embryos just sit there dormant, until you put them in a nice warm place (under the female) and then they start to grow.

 

[TheQuackHouseCW]

once she goes broody, she typically does not lay more eggs

she has not layed any eggs!!!! there is nothing in her nest!!! i will collect from the others till there are 10-12?? and then put them in her nest

 

[NatJ]

she has not layed any eggs!!!! there is nothing in her nest!!! i will collect from the others till there are 10-12?? and then put them in her nest

That sounds like a good plan.

Was she laying eggs back before she went broody? That is what I would have expected.

 

[TheQuackHouseCW]

That sounds like a good plan.

Was she laying eggs back before she went broody? That is what I would have expected.

No eggs. Just got her late summer as a rescue. She’s never laid for me

 

[NatJ]

No eggs. Just got her late summer as a rescue. She’s never laid for me

That is definitely odd.

I don't think I've heard of a female going broody without laying any eggs first.

But if she is definitely broody now, you can probably treat her like any other broody at this stage.