Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[DawnB]

hi all I have a question. I'm less than a week away, I think, on my Alice's eggs she's a muskovy. I've got her set up in my garage on a concrete floor. Is it okay if I put straw down on the concrete for the babies or wouold pine shavings be better...or something else? Of course...they're due to hatch the day we are out if town. I have a friend peeking in for the day...but is there anything absolutely critical to have in there while I'm gone? She has food and water... Thanks

 

[EdenCamp]

Hay is better than straw - straw can poke eyes and such. Pine shavings are just going to scatter to the 4 corneres unless some containment.

Startina, some kind of high protien game bird feed for the babies. Fresh water.

Mom will take care of the rest.

 

[EdenCamp]

Hay is better than straw - straw can poke eyes and such. Pine shavings are just going to scatter to the 4 corneres unless some containment.

Startina, some kind of high protien game bird feed for the babies. Fresh water.

Mom will take care of the rest.

 

[DaytonDuckMom]

They are adorable Dayton, Congrats!!!

Thank you!! We love them!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you!! We love them!!

I bet you do and just think more on the way

 

[DawnB]

Unfortunately, hay is scarce here at the moment (unless I want a round bale, which I don't). Most fields haven't even been mowed for the first cut yet.

Is straw going to be really that bad? Mom's nest is all straw...it's all I've got right now besides the pine shavings. I'm not too worried about them spreading about...I can always sweep up the garage. My biggest concern was how the concrete would affect the babies...would it be too hard on them without anything on it.

Here's my setup (less the floor covering)...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Unfortunately, hay is scarce here at the moment (unless I want a round bale, which I don't). Most fields haven't even been mowed for the first cut yet.

Is straw going to be really that bad? Mom's nest is all straw...it's all I've got right now besides the pine shavings. I'm not too worried about them spreading about...I can always sweep up the garage. My biggest concern was how the concrete would affect the babies...would it be too hard on them without anything on it.

Here's my setup (less the floor covering)...

Since you have the area contained pine shaving would work and be softer on lil ducklings feet.

 

[corrinekay]

I am new to this site, but have a first time mama mallard sitting on a huge clutch of eggs. I had to pull four out that were rotten today. The eggs seem to be at different stages when I candled them due to my kc laying in her nest. The eggs should have been ready for hatch in two days, but I think those are the ones that went bad. I'm not sure what to expect now, and wonder if anyone knows why they are going bad. I'm afraid I will lose all the remaining eggs.

 

[EdenCamp]

It's not unusual for the first couple laid to be infertile or since they sit the longest while everything else being laid,,, just don't pan out. Often mama will push the rotters out herself. When she figgures she's got her wings full with all she can handle of hatchlings she may abandon the rest, viable or no. Good luck!

 

[EdenCamp]

It's not unusual for the first couple laid to be infertile or since they sit the longest while everything else being laid,,, just don't pan out. Often mama will push the rotters out herself. When she figgures she's got her wings full with all she can handle of hatchlings she may abandon the rest, viable or no. Good luck!