Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[chickarooo]

OMG we have a problem I seriously don't know what you could do just don't put yourself under any harm maybe stand far away and throw a stick it should move them

 

[tull14]

So after 20 minutes I have been out in the barn with a pitch fork and a shovel... snake isn't as big as I thought but it's still scary. I poked at it and all it did was lunge and strike at the pitch fork. It buried itself further down in the hay and won't budge. Mommy duck keeps coming to the door to check on her nest. I really don't know what to do!!! My heart is pounding and I am scared to death!!!!! I will never want to step foot in the duck pen again

 

[chickarooo]

Wow this is hard And dangerous I say you call someone to remove the snake

 

[Miss Lydia]

NO NO NO NO!!!! It's day 10 or 12 I just went out to the barn because I was going to candle the duck eggs. It's a good thing I didn't reach in her nest, my son yelled there was a snake under the bridge (which is where the nest is) there was a huge snake in there in the nest I am petrified of snakes I don't know what to do I want to save her eggs but I'm pregnant and I'll have a heart attack trying to get this snake!!!

I use a long hoe or one of this 4 prong long handle things, pick them up and carry them off, It's amazing what you can do when one of your flock is in danger even eggs. If it are any it probably didn't eat them all but you can bet the farm it will be back another reason why I encourage people to lock up their broodies in a safe place while brooding and after hatch. I had a 4' blk snake get one of my day old ducklings had it in a vise grip, I had to unwind the snake it's amazing the duckling survived it did have a bite wound on it's lil leg. Hope mama duck is okay.

 

[Duck Drover]

I thought my Australian Spotted ducks were done laying this season but they are acting like it is Spring and I now have 10 duck eggs to hatch. I put them in the incubator because I can keep them safe to hatch them and hopefully get more eggs instead of broody ducks before they stop laying again. I could have put the eggs in a nest box for the Silkies to hatch but I want to be able to candle them and raise them indoors with colder weather on the way. Today it is 90 degrees because we are having a record high but in a month it will be getting cold. I just got the Call ducklings out of the bathtub so it looks like I will need to set up something for ducklings that works just as well. They love getting a warm shower and I love how easy it is to spray out their poop! I am excited to be able to hatch more ducklings but it is an unexpected surprise.

 

[tull14]

Update:
I called my brother he came over and removed the snake... lets just say he won't be back! It was actually bigger than it appeared. It was about 5-6ft long. He made away with one of the eggs so there are 14 left, now I just hope the mama will come back and sit! I was actually able to candle them after everything was calmed down. I wasn't really sure what I was looking at some of them I could definitely tell there were babies in them but others it looked like maybe part of it was dark like 1/4 of it was dark?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I thought my Australian Spotted ducks were done laying this season but they are acting like it is Spring and I now have 10 duck eggs to hatch. I put them in the incubator because I can keep them safe to hatch them and hopefully get more eggs instead of broody ducks before they stop laying again. I could have put the eggs in a nest box for the Silkies to hatch but I want to be able to candle them and raise them indoors with colder weather on the way. Today it is 90 degrees because we are having a record high but in a month it will be getting cold. I just got the Call ducklings out of the bathtub so it looks like I will need to set up something for ducklings that works just as well. They love getting a warm shower and I love how easy it is to spray out their poop! I am excited to be able to hatch more ducklings but it is an unexpected surprise.

Congrats and keep us update, it will be fun to follow ducklings so late in the year when most of us are finished.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Update:
I called my brother he came over and removed the snake... lets just say he won't be back! It was actually bigger than it appeared. It was about 5-6ft long. He made away with one of the eggs so there are 14 left, now I just hope the mama will come back and sit! I was actually able to candle them after everything was calmed down. I wasn't really sure what I was looking at some of them I could definitely tell there were babies in them but others it looked like maybe part of it was dark like 1/4 of it was dark?

Glad to hear it only got 1 egg. here is an egg chart
http://wildliferehabber.com/sites/default/files/wr_duckeggchart.jpg

 

[tull14]

So I am hoping everything will work out fine with this little mishap! Mom was off the nest for awhile yesterday which has me concerned. I know she was at least off from 5pm until 10pm when I checked on her last night she was still spooked and wasn't on the nest. I just went out there this morning and she was back on the nest. Temps are getting cooler here at night maybe 60's but still we're in 80-90's during the day. I'm hoping that the eggs will be fine. That was a scary day for me and my son. We are both looking forward to baby ducklings come October I hope we at least get a few from 15 eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I am hoping everything will work out fine with this little mishap! Mom was off the nest for awhile yesterday which has me concerned. I know she was at least off from 5pm until 10pm when I checked on her last night she was still spooked and wasn't on the nest. I just went out there this morning and she was back on the nest. Temps are getting cooler here at night maybe 60's but still we're in 80-90's during the day. I'm hoping that the eggs will be fine. That was a scary day for me and my son. We are both looking forward to baby ducklings come October I hope we at least get a few from 15 eggs.

Did you see the egg chart I gave you? it will help you determine how far along ducklings are, glad she's back and hopefully no more snakes.