Need some Muscovy help...

[sred98]

I just got a trio of Muscovies. A coyote snatched one right in front of me this weekend, right after she laid her first egg for me.

They are about a year old. I think that the other female has decided to sit on the eggs. She is protective of the nest, but isn't sitting on it all the time. And, she has started to cover it when she leaves. Right now, there are only about 6 eggs in the nest. Should I remove the eggs and incubate them on my own, or leave them be? When will she start sitting on them full-time? I have uncovered them a few times, because I thought the chickens were scratching over the nest, but saw her covering them. Is this normal?

Also, my guinea has just started laying for the first time, and has decided to share the nest. I have been removing her eggs, but she keeps laying them there. Should I leave her eggs? Can a muscovy hatch guineas?

Thanks so much for the help!

Shelly

 

[HenPen]

I would let her hatch the eggs herself....covering them is normal as is getting off the nest...she will hatch the guinea eggs BUT she will also try to teach them to swim so if you decide to leave them take them out as soon as they hatch because they will follow her into the water.

 

[lovesduckies]

she will start laying on them when she is done laying all her eggs. so far from what i've gathered, you will get a better hatch rate if you let mommy duck sit in her eggs. i see muscovies are a bit hard to hatch. good luck!

 

[sred98]

Ooooh! YAY!

Sounds like she knows what she is doing, then, and I will leave her alone! She does sit on them at night, and chases the chickens away when they snoop around over there. I wonder how many eggs she'll lay??

I did borrow an incubator from a friend, so maybe I'll just put the guinea eggs in there, along with some EE eggs I've got.

Thanks!

Shelly

 

[lovesduckies]

Quote:
i left mine alone and let her do her thing

she laid 21 and 19 were fertile (this is her first clutch) good luck!! let us know how many you get!!

 

[sred98]

So she laid in the same nest for 21 days?? Then started setting? This is my first time with ducks, period, so I am just full of questions! I am still removing the guinea and now chicken eggs, because everyone has decided this is THE nest to lay in! LOL!


Thanks so much for the help!

Shelly

 

[lovesduckies]

yeah, she is kinda limited to space lol. she lives in my bedroom. we got her a box. she's under my desk with a sheet covering the opening. but i am sure she will keep laying her eggs in the same spot.

 

[sred98]

Quote:
Oh that is tooo cute! I want to see a pic!

Shelly

 

[chickboss]

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i am the official duck thread killer

LOL, and I thought that was going to be my title! LOL.​

 

[lovesduckies]

ohhh your in luck, i have tons of them

hahahaha chickboss, i named myself that cuz i post stuff here and the only person who will respond is my bff and maybe like one other person or if i respond to someone's post it is rare that they answer me back

lol