Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[runsw/scissors]

What a relief! Congrats!


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[Niss]

TerriO--those are CUTE chicks, and so many

 

[Miss Lydia]

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X2 very cute pictures!! Niss what are you going to do about your mia duck?

 

[Niss]

My first choice would be to catch her--either be able to shut her in the coop when she comes for a bite to eat or see where she is nesting so I can grab her at dusk. I don't want her tring to sit on a clutch outside for the exact reason you stated--every night she's out there is a chance she'll be eaten, and given how long duck eggs take, I just don't like the odds.

If I can grab her I'll put her in the rabbit cage and see if she really wants to brood. The ducks all free range, so if she really wants to set I need to make her set in the coop or she will find another hiding spot. She's not going far...I think she is in the hedge row between our house and the road or on the other side of the road in the over grown bushes.

If I catch her when she's off the nest can I try to give her chicken eggs? Has anyone tried this?

 

[Terri O]

I tried it once...it seemed like my duck was programmed to sit for a longer time so she didnt take the babies out of the nest! Two of my Polish crosses adopted the chicks though...the duck hen continued to sit on nothing and at 32 days went off the nest...it was weird.
Can you find the nest and then set her on her own eggs? If she was locked up she might brood them. T

Thanks for the compliments on my new ones...that hen is just the best mama--even if she always has surprise babies!

 

[Niss]

thanks for sharing your experiance. I would perfer to get her and the nest, but at this point I would grab her without it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Hope she isn't crossing the road or it's not very busy, maybe horse and buggy busy anyway. I hope you can get her Niss.

 

[Niss]

I found her!!! She was across the street in some high grass/rosebush with a clutch of 12+
They are all caged inside the coop now. What relief!
Can she cover all those eggs? It seems like a lot for such a little duck (she is smaller than Miss Lydia).

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Might aught to candle and remove the ones that aren't viable so she can keep them good and warm I imagine it's getting pretty cool up your way now. So happy you found her, way to go.

 

[Jloeffler]

Good catch Niss!! Twelve!?! She's been a busy little horder hasn't she?