Muscovy-palooza
Songster
I have 3 muscovy that have become so broody that some of their hatchlings were left to fend for themselves once they hopped out of the nest. I took them in and put them with Stevie, one that i had to take in due to health issues. The nest was in a kiddie pool so I am wondering if that was a bad idea since it has a side and the babies may get out but can't get back in. However, I know that some ducks make their nests in high places so I don't really know. Two hens laid their eggs in the pool and seemed to like it. 3 of the eggs hatched and 4 others went bad. I would often come in and find that, although they were sitting, there eggs had scooted out from under them. Maybe it was too big of a nest. It did have what I thought to be plenty of bedding but the hens would clear it out from under them down to the bottom of the pool making the eggs less stationary for sitting. I may could put some board in the pool to seperate it into 4 sections.
*How do I deal with hens that still want to stay in their eggless nests? Will they come back to these nesting areas to lay knowing that I took their precious eggs from there? I have dog crates in the coop that I can lock them in to keep them off the nests. I have seen youtubers break broodiness this way but the crate was not in the coop. I really don't want to make my hens hate me knowing that I took their eggs, but it is time for them to get out and get some fresh air. They have been going to the nest since early to mid April. It's time.
I took one mom off the nest and closed her out of the coop in Hope's that she would go for a swim. No such luck, she is outside the door.
Any advice would be very appreciated.
*How do I deal with hens that still want to stay in their eggless nests? Will they come back to these nesting areas to lay knowing that I took their precious eggs from there? I have dog crates in the coop that I can lock them in to keep them off the nests. I have seen youtubers break broodiness this way but the crate was not in the coop. I really don't want to make my hens hate me knowing that I took their eggs, but it is time for them to get out and get some fresh air. They have been going to the nest since early to mid April. It's time.
I took one mom off the nest and closed her out of the coop in Hope's that she would go for a swim. No such luck, she is outside the door.
Any advice would be very appreciated.