Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[Going Quackers]

I'll Quote from our lovely Miss Lydia from the thread last year

"Just thought it might be nice to see if anyone who is letting mama take care of brooding might like to post her e and ask questions or just share their experience. Make sure you tell us the breed of your duck too and of course pics. Things you have learned and things you will do different next time. How easy it was to sell the ducklings or if your planning on keeping them. "

 

[Tanichca]

I found a chart (google, you amazing thing, you!) and the eggs look roughly like the duck egg at day 26. We could have babies very soon.

 

[gysygirl]

Originally Posted by Miss Lydia


Please come join us on this thread and congrats!! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...read-for-ducks-2013-edition/610#post_11200107

I have two broody calls out of four girls! my magpie 'Smudge' hers are due about next Thursday she is sitting on 10 eggs all were fertile when candled at one week and I've not dared go near them since

So am leaving her to it, My black 'Buttons' are due about a week later she also has 10 eggs and she is even crankier than Smudge. Smudge has nested outside in their pen which is luckily well fenced and covered with aviary bird netting so I've been forced to leave her out Button's has nested in their shed so she is easier but goes nut's every morning when I open the door for the other two and the Drake to come out

My poor drake 'Donald' who has been bought up with Smudge took about a week to accept she was not going to accompany him anymore in duck land and moved onto being best mates with Buttons who went broody a week later

The poor fellow only had left my two chocolates Bambi and Thumper who are now reveling in his attentions instead of being ignored as usual

he gets all excited when Smudge comes off at dusk every night for about 15 Min's and you can almost see him standing there rubbing his head wondering when she went nut's

as she does everything at super speeds then disappears again! I can't wait till next week to see how many hatch as I was not expecting this after reading how hard to hatch calls are I did not expect broody ducks! But will leave them to it and see what happens....... The best thing is I get more duckies (hopefully) as I was working on my other half letting me get more to no avail and as I keep pointing out it's not my fault

Luckily they are in a very big pen with a pond and waterfall and a new big shed which could fit about 50 call's easily I will keep you all posted and take lots of piccies.

 

[gysygirl]

Happy to see ya hear, it's nice when we can all be together waiting for the big day.. and when one hatches keeps us going waiting for our hatch, and yes broody ducks best way in the world to get more and blaming someone else for it.

Thanks Miss Lyndia I have just been out in the duck pen fixing up some smaller netting on the back fence and had to intervene between the two broodies

All was well until Buttons came out of the shed and proceded straight down to Smudges nest where there is a food bowl just put out for Smudge as she has no access to the shed at night where the big feeder is (next to Buttons nest) why she thinks this food is better I don't know, But Smudge took this badly and came off her nest shouting and pecking her this went on for twenty mins both shouting at each other from other ends of the pond and neither would go past the other to get back to their nests

In the end I intercepted Smudge and put her near her nest again to which she gladly jumped in Buttons took one last look and turned round and walked into the shed!

They have both truly gone nuts....

 

[keirys]

29 more days until hatch day

Its taking forever !!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL....because you know I read dh as 'dumb husband'.

All respect and laughter included!!

Well sometimes it does mean that Dayton . lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey, I figured out pictures! This one was taken yesterday when my drake perched himself at the top of their pool ramp. The big white mass in the dog house is mama's rear end

I bet dad will be happy when mama is ready to join him again, and that's cute of mama to give you a rear view of her.

 

[farmer boy]

I have seen one of my drakes [Muscovy] go into the stall and stand over the eggs, he didn't touch them but was just standing there looking at them, I've seen my gander do it too.

do you know why they do this ?? do they know they are having kids lol .... heres some pics of what my saxony and rouen x pekin made .. these 2 ducklings were hatched in a bator

thought you guys might like to see some of my ducklings

 

[gysygirl]

Taking pictures of the babies for us if you're kind.........

.

Ok so this mornings count is........ 9 out of 10 eggs hatched and running around!

I was witness to their 1st family outing this morning really funny watching them pile after mum and even swimming on the pond with her, Dad and the other two are keeping their distance after some warnings from mum

The funniest bit was watching them all go over to where the other three were foraging in the grass which was fine until mum decided to go back to the pond as the babies piled down the hill the three adults inc dad ran for their lives I think they thought they were gonna get stampeded

The little dears are being taken out by mum for about 10 Min's at a time and then back to the nest for food and snuggling they then emerge about 2 hours later and do it all again

I have been totally ducked today and just downloaded the pics to find I'd taken 138

good job we're on digital now or this would cost a fortune, Here is a couple of the best.......


This is mum and dad and all the gang

 

[EdenCamp]

Boys will be boys........

Not all eggs are going to hatch. Often the first couple laid are duds. Some will get kicked out, by accident or mama's wise design. If you focus on the ones that don't make it just beating your head on the wall of nature. Celebrate the new life that emerges when it happens!