Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[FNF]

This is a long thread so maybe the answer is in there … but do you do anything in particular for a duck (hen) that is showing signs of broodiness, but we don’t have a drake so no viable eggs? Or just let her be? She’s not sitting on anything (eggs collected each day) but she did go back in the house and make a nest and she is sitting in there now (already got the eggs) plus she does the irritated quacking and scrunched posture. Thanks!!

 

[Evadig]

This is a long thread so maybe the answer is in there … but do you do anything in particular for a duck (hen) that is showing signs of broodiness, but we don’t have a drake so no viable eggs? Or just let her be? She’s not sitting on anything (eggs collected each day) but she did go back in the house and make a nest and she is sitting in there now (already got the eggs) plus she does the irritated quacking and scrunched posture. Thanks!!

Well, I let mine all sit, but when my turkey oversat I put her in a pen in the cold basement. That seemed to help. I also locked one of the broody ducks out of the nest and she gave up - but then again she had already done her sitting. I don't know if any of that helps!

 

[FNF]

Well, I let mine all sit, but when my turkey oversat I put her in a pen in the cold basement. That seemed to help. I also locked one of the broody ducks out of the nest and she gave up - but then again she had already done her sitting. I don't know if any of that helps!

Thanks! So they were sitting, but not on any eggs? I always read that runner ducks are less prone to it so I was surprised when the posture and quacking started (she's been doing that a little while but no sitting), and even more surprised when she went back in the house to sit after already laying her egg this morning. I wasn't sure if I should interrupt her or let her sit on an empty nest (assuming no softie eggs or anything are in there later).

 

[Evadig]

Thanks! So they were sitting, but not on any eggs? I always read that runner ducks are less prone to it so I was surprised when the posture and quacking started (she's been doing that a little while but no sitting), and even more surprised when she went back in the house to sit after already laying her egg this morning. I wasn't sure if I should interrupt her or let her sit on an empty nest (assuming no softie eggs or anything are in there later).

No they had eggs
The Duck that was broody is a Welsh Harlequin, she sat for three weeks then I kicked her out due to some complications. My other broody duck took over her eggs.

It’s kind of confusing

 

[FNF]

No they had eggs
The Duck that was broody is a Welsh Harlequin, she sat for three weeks then I kicked her out due to some complications. My other broody duck took over her eggs.

It’s kind of confusing

Gotcha. Yeah I only have three laying runners currently, and no drake. I collect the eggs each morning, they're almost always in a little divot in the corner of the duck house like clockwork. One has been acting broody but just today started going back in to sit on nothing. I was worried maybe she was trying to lay a softie or something but so far, I peek in on her, she gets irritated and comes back out, eats, drinks, but eventually goes back in to her new little nest of nothing. :/ I wasn't sure if I should close the door to their house or what.

 

[FNF]

@Miss Lydia do you have any insight into this behavior and what would be best for the duck?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, I have Muscovy so that should tell you a lot those girls will sit until the end of time if I let them.

I have 2 Runners who now want to sit I leave both in the coop long enough to make sure if they want to lay they do then I go in and get them up take the eggs up and lock them out. They go right back when it's time for bed but we just start the whole process over the next day. This is the first time I have had any of my Runners go broody my 8 yrs old have never it's my 5 yr old and my 9 month old But they sure are easier to deal with than my Muscovy.

 

[FNF]

Well, I have Muscovy so that should tell you a lot those girls will sit until the end of time if I let them.

I have 2 Runners who now want to sit I leave both in the coop long enough to make sure if they want to lay they do then I go in and get them up take the eggs up and lock them out. They go right back when it's time for bed but we just start the whole process over the next day. This is the first time I have had any of my Runners go broody my 8 yrs old have never it's my 5 yr old and my 9 month old But they sure are easier to deal with than my Muscovy.

Thank you this is very helpful! I wasn't sure if I should lock her out of the house or not. It's so hot right now and while the duck house is well ventilated and shady, I hate the thought of her sitting in there for nothing when she could be swimming! I think I'll check on them in a few minutes and if she's still sitting on nothing, close the door when I interrupt her and she comes out (angrily). She already laid her actual egg today so I'm hoping this breaks the cycle at least for today!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh my 2 give me a piece of their mind too it's so cute.

 

[ChickyWhicky]

I love this thread! I love hatching with broody hens, we do it several times a year. We have 2 hens that are regularly scheduled broodys and have raised many clutches! We even had a 2 hen brood one year. They both sat on clutches next to each other and hatched over 10 babies. They co-parented until the babies were feathered. Such a cool experience to see, some pics below!