Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Sweedish dude- I'm not sure that you can "buy" a broody duck. Usually if you move a broody duck at all, even on the same property and in the same flock, it will break her bloodiness. Your better bet is to create conditions where a duck will decide that it will be a good place to raise ducklings and let nature take its course.

 

[Duck Drover]

I hatched three of the first five duck eggs I collected after the season ended. There were two more eggs in the clutch but one did after it pipped internally without breaking through the shell and the other one died possibly a week before hatching. I have more due to hatch but when I candled the majority of the eggs were infertile. I moved my proven drake out since my young drake was looking for action and I hoped to have unrelated ducklings to pair with ducklings from this year and instead I took away the drake that was doing the job! At least I know who fathered the ducklings now. I had not expected to hatch any more ducklings until next season so what hatches is a bonus. I have had a wait list for ducklings so they are already sold. I also have someone who wants to photograph the ducklings and this person is willing to pay me $20 for the photo shoot so that should be fun.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hatched three of the first five duck eggs I collected after the season ended. There were two more eggs in the clutch but one did after it pipped internally without breaking through the shell and the other one died possibly a week before hatching. I have more due to hatch but when I candled the majority of the eggs were infertile. I moved my proven drake out since my young drake was looking for action and I hoped to have unrelated ducklings to pair with ducklings from this year and instead I took away the drake that was doing the job! At least I know who fathered the ducklings now. I had not expected to hatch any more ducklings until next season so what hatches is a bonus. I have had a wait list for ducklings so they are already sold. I also have someone who wants to photograph the ducklings and this person is willing to pay me $20 for the photo shoot so that should be fun.

Congrats on the hatch... would love to see some pics. and be sure to tell us how the photo shoot goes as your trying to get everyone lined up for the family photo.

pretty cool that you get paid for it.

 

[quirkybeeper]

I have no idea where to put this question; here, new thread...no clue! Bear with me

She's laying again and I WANT DUCKLINGS darnit!! Third time is the charm, right? Anyway, I'm going to incubate the whole time this time and hope it works. I don't know what to do before I put the eggs in the incubator though. I don't have a basement to store them in (that's the suggestion I come across most often), so that's out of the question. I don't want to/can't put them in the fridge. I might be able to find somewhere in the house to keep them cool, but I'm not positive. The other option I see is to leave them outside until she starts sitting, but that seems cruel to let her lay all those eggs then just take them away.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have no idea where to put this question; here, new thread...no clue! Bear with me

She's laying again and I WANT DUCKLINGS darnit!! Third time is the charm, right? Anyway, I'm going to incubate the whole time this time and hope it works. I don't know what to do before I put the eggs in the incubator though. I don't have a basement to store them in (that's the suggestion I come across most often), so that's out of the question. I don't want to/can't put them in the fridge. I might be able to find somewhere in the house to keep them cool, but I'm not positive. The other option I see is to leave them outside until she starts sitting, but that seems cruel to let her lay all those eggs then just take them away.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I know on the goose thread some store them in their closet till time to put into the bator. I don't know why though. Maybe let her continue to lay till you get the desired amount you want to put into the bator then take those and leave her with the rest. If the ones under her hatch then that will just give you more ducklings.

 

[EdenCamp]

That sounds like a plan - double your chances of duckies. Duck eggs are notoriously hard to incubate sucessfully.

 

[quirkybeeper]

I know on the goose thread some store them in their closet till time to put into the bator. I don't know why though. Maybe let  her continue to lay till you get the desired amount you want to put into the bator then take those and leave her with the rest. If the ones under her hatch then that will just give you more ducklings.

That sounds like a plan - double your chances of duckies.  Duck eggs are notoriously hard to incubate sucessfully.

Great suggestions, thanks! Can someone point me in the direction of how to do dry incubation? I've been reading that it's more successful, if I remember correctly.

Edit: just kidding. I'm thinking of tje article/post about weighing the eggs and the proper amount of moisture loss, air cell size, etc.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great suggestions, thanks! Can someone point me in the direction of how to do dry incubation? I've been reading that it's more successful, if I remember correctly.

Edit: just kidding. I'm thinking of tje article/post about weighing the eggs and the proper amount of moisture loss, air cell size, etc.

This is for water fowl and Pete knows his stuff... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed

 

[quirkybeeper]

This is for water fowl and Pete knows his stuff... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/491013/goose-incubation-hatching-guide-completed

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for

Keep us updated on progress.