new to duck questions...

[emjay]

question #1

I have noticed the last few days that in the nest boxes, one of the girls has started getting in it, as there is the bowl shape to it, as if she's been sitting and shaping it to her body, nesting. No egg though. Is this a sign that she is getting close to laying? they are 5 months old.

question #2

how does the broody thing/hatching eggs go? Is it the same with chickens, where you collect the eggs then sneak them all under the chicken at the same time?
or does the duck lay an egg each day, and then brood when she collects enough? If so, how do you know she's planning on collecting her own clutch for hatching.

can someone explain the duck process of family planning to me, haha. thanks.

 

[emjay]

anyone?? here's a shameless bumpity bump.

 

[doubleostud]

What breed are you talking about, that will help alot with the answers. Some duck breeds such as Pekin have been bred for production so they rarely go broody, however I have one that after about 3 eggs she will try to hatch them.

 

[sheila3935]

I wish I knew as I have a Khaki campbell that is almost 6 months old been mating with our runner drake for 3 weeks has a nest going and still no eggs. Is it because of the time of year?

 

[melodylee]

I noticed my hen staying on the nest longer after she laid, usually by 9 am I get the eggs ans she was still there at about noon, I have 5 females laying on the same nest though so two days and she has a nest full she is setting now...most collect the eggs until they have an amount they like. I had some of them make nest before they laid their first egg and others just laid anywhere no warning!

 

[emjay]

Quote:
they are welsh harlequins.

 

[Wifezilla]

She may be getting ready to lay. Welsh Harlequins do tend to go broody if you let the eggs pile up. Maybe not so much the first year, but they are supposed to be more broody-prone year 2+.