Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[farmer boy]

well i think i still have to wait 1-2 weeks and then i have my ducklings

 

[Miss Lydia]

well i think i still have to wait 1-2 weeks and then i have my ducklings

Wouldn't it be cool if we all had duckling hatching around the same time? mines do to hatch next Wed. thru Friday at the latest.

 

[farmer boy]

that would be cool lol .. i was gonna candle one egg today but she was on the nest she gets off every 2 days she was off today but not very long

 

[Snownoir]

congrats

X2!!!

X 3 !!!!!


Yes, I did put the egg back the angle I found it. Thanks for looking out.

 

[quirkybeeper]

I haven't seen my mama up, not even when I take food or get close to her nest...she usually comes out fussing at me! Soon, I hope!! What I wouldn't give for a wireless outdoor camera to watch the nest!! Or a really comfy lawn chair

 

[EdenCamp]

Had another hatch of scovies, mama and babies jumped the nest and are now running around the pen. Think they started hatching like 2 days ago - she's been standing over the nest rather than clamped down. I do run an eye over my birds 2-4+ times a day especially when nested(and I can find the dern nests!).

Guess I believe messing with eggs tends to do more harm than good. I can see the point when incubating, eggs are being turned anyway, no broody to kick out bad eggs (to free up space in a staggered hatch maybe). Otherwise, why upset mama, risking dropping, shaking, chilling, putting back upside down and otherwise harming or terminating just for can't stand it's sake?

I know, I'm no fun! LOL!

 

[farmer boy]

i never candled my broody ducks eggs once i wanted to but i never did ... she still has 18 eggs under her so maybe 18 chicks will hatch she only threw out 2

 

[new2ducks]

My one female (khaki cambell) has been sitting on eggs that have been laid by her and my one Swedish. They decided about a week ago to nest under my lawn chair so what I did was mark a few days' eggs with a black marker so I won't pull them out when she gets off the nest and I just use the newer ones. My husband doesn't want more ducks so I'm keeping the eggs to a small amount. I decided that I'm going to give any that hatch to a woman who has a farm in the area. I've noticed that the males will even take turns sitting on the eggs and gently tuck the straw around them. It's been interesting to watch and this is my first time with hatching so I'm very excited! I'm thinking that the ducks are laying eggs under the chair because of how the rabbit had her litter in their dog house.

 

[EdenCamp]

So your swedish and campbell are both brooding thier nest as a pair? Neato! I know some birds pair up and raise thier brood but didn't know any ducks did. My scovies sure don't. The boys go hang out together and sulk when the girls aren't in the mood to play with all the nesting.

Farmerboy, it's typical for the first few eggs laid to not be fertile/not hatch. I usually have a few left over when mama hops the nest. Think sometimes too she figgures she's got her wings full and the late hatchers may just be SOL.
Nature has her ways and while we may sometime think(or wish) we can do better.......rarely so.

The newest hatch

Last week's babies about a week old and 3 almost 2 weeks old

 

[Snownoir]

Had another hatch of scovies, mama and babies jumped the nest and are now running around the pen. Think they started hatching like 2 days ago - she's been standing over the nest rather than clamped down. I do run an eye over my birds 2-4+ times a day especially when nested(and I can find the dern nests!).

Guess I believe messing with eggs tends to do more harm than good. I can see the point when incubating, eggs are being turned anyway, no broody to kick out bad eggs (to free up space in a staggered hatch maybe). Otherwise, why upset mama, risking dropping, shaking, chilling, putting back upside down and otherwise harming or terminating just for can't stand it's sake?

I know, I'm no fun! LOL!

You're fine. Actually, I've never touched an egg before (unless it was food). This was the first time I've done it. I usually advocate the same as you, "people leave em be, nature knows how to do their thing." Mom was off her nest stuffing her face. I didn't bother her. I also trust my dexterity enough to not stress dropping an egg. I would NOT shake one. But I get your points, like I said, I usually advocate them myself. Regardless, since I don't incubate myself, it was something special to witness the sounds that go on during development. Worth the risks.

Congrats on your hatch! I look forward to pictures. Love the pictures!!!!