My Indian Runner is sitting on her nest!!!

[aimiburkitt]

Hi everyone . My names Aimi and I live in England. Last year I hatched for the first time 3 Indian Runner ducks - I haven't owned any ducks previously so was very pleased when my little babies hatched!

I have two girls and one boy, they roam free around our garden during the day live in a duck house at night. All the ducks are let out at 6am ish in the morning.

Normally I have two duck eggs in the duck house which I remove every morning because I was led to believe that Indian Runners don't hatch their own eggs. Well this morning around 10.30am I could only find two if my ducks so I went on the hunt for the third one, when I found her she was in a bush sat on 4 eggs!! I really don't know what to do now? If there's 4 eggs she must have been going to lay them once she's let out at 6am in the morning for the last 4 days and now I'm worried that because I've been putting her in her house at night then at least one of the eggs has been left for three nights without my duck sitting on it. If I do leave her out over night she's at risk of the fox. The weather here at the moment is around 21degrees during the day and 8degrees at night.

Can someone please advise if these eggs have any change of hatching and if so what should I do? Do I move her best somewhere safe or wo that make her abandon them?

Thanks in advance

 

[iwiw60]

If it were me I'd leave well enough alone. Let her be broody and set her eggs! That would be great!

 

[aimiburkitt]

But what about the risk of fox? X

 

[iwiw60]

If you have predators then the only thing to do, if you want her to go ahead and brood, would be to move her and her eggs. Do this at night, first taking the eggs and placing them in the nest area you have set up. Then move your broody. She may scream and yell, but move her. She should settle down after awhile. There's no need to have water and feed right there next to her. She in fact needs to get up (usually once a day) and she'll eat and drink and lay the most awful smelling "broody poops" imaginable!!

Let us know how it goes!!

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=moving+a+broody


About half-way down this page is the section "Moving A Broody Hen"

 

[Miss Lydia]

But what about the risk of fox? X

I'd risk moving her nest get as much of it as you can, because the fox will find her. If she gives up the nest, then at least your duck will be safe. give her a nice place inside and leave the eggs in the nest she'll either go broody again or she won't but at least your duck will be safe. and

 

[aimiburkitt]

That's a good idea! What if I put most if them in an incubator and move the rest into her house and leave her too it then give her back the ducklings once they are hatched? X

 

[aimiburkitt]

Thanks for all your advice! I'm learning as I go x

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's a good idea! What if I put most if them in an incubator and move the rest into her house and leave her too it then give her back the ducklings once they are hatched? X

If she is till sitting when the ones in the bator hatch then she'd most likely take them back. Sharing the incubator load gives both of you a chance at hatching, good idea, please let us know how it goes. and a shovel will probably move nest and eggs safely.

 

[sourland]

If her broodiness breaks, she will not accept the ducklings after they are hatched. I have never been able to successfully move a broody duck. What are the experiences of others?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If her broodiness breaks, she will not accept the ducklings after they are hatched. I have never been able to successfully move a broody duck. What are the experiences of others?

I've moved a couple but none that were nesting outside just in someone else's stall. I would never let one of my ducks keep a nest outside though.