Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[Miss Lydia]

She's just as happy as can be sitting on her little nest today!
Occasionally she stands up, grooms and plucks a few feathers, and then settles back down.

Here's video I just took.
I have duck TV on. LOL

Us girls have to keep our feathers in pristine condition you know.

 

[Blondiega1]

Question..... Will a mother hen go in to a sort of "lock down" too?
I've read about lock down when incubating them yourself, but does a hen do something similar?

Today is day 18 for my Delilah.
10 days to go.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Question..... Will a mother hen go in to a sort of "lock down" too?
I've read about lock down when incubating them yourself, but does a hen do something similar?

Today is day 18 for my Delilah.
10 days to go.

Yes they do, when hatching gets close and she begins to hear peeping inside the egg she'll stay put and most likely won't get off the nest, if she does it will be fast. You may see her straddle the eggs when hatching begins too.

 

[Blondiega1]

Yes they do, when hatching gets close and she begins to hear peeping inside the egg she'll stay put and most likely won't get off the nest, if she does it will be fast. You may see her straddle the eggs when hatching begins too.

Thanks!
So she won't go in to "lock down" until hatching is imminent then?
Not the 10 days out like you would if using an incubator?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks!
So she won't go in to "lock down" until hatching is imminent then?
Not the 10 days out like you would if using an incubator?

Nope, and I didn't know it was 10 days out wow. course I have never used a bator either. She'll have to come out to bath right up till to keep the humidity up for hatching.

 

[Blondiega1]

Nope, and I didn't know it was 10 days out wow. course I have never used a bator either. She'll have to come out to bath right up till to keep the humidity up for hatching.

Okay thanks.
I've just read on here where if using a bator you go in to lock down on day 18.
I may have that wrong, but I think that's what I read.
She didn't come out for breakfast, but it was kind of cool this morning.
She'll probably come out for dinner. It will be well over 90 by then.

 

[Blondiega1]

Other than to stretch and shift positions, Mama Delilah has not moved off the nest all day.
Not even to come out for breakfast when the others came home to eat.....
We will see if she comes off for dinner here in a little bit.

10 days to go... (sheeze getting REAL now)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Other than to stretch and shift positions, Mama Delilah has not moved off the nest all day.
Not even to come out for breakfast when the others came home to eat.....
We will see if she comes off for dinner here in a little bit.

10 days to go... (sheeze getting REAL now)

Does she have food and water close by?

 

[Blondiega1]

Does she have food and water close by?

Yes, it's less than 20 feet from where she's nesting.

She eats, drinks, then goes down to the lake for about an hour to hour and half before coming back to set again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, it's less than 20 feet from where she's nesting.

She eats, drinks, then goes down to the lake for about an hour to hour and half before coming back to set again.

But today she didn't? well not sure whats going on there, are you sure you have your dates right?