Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[Miss Lydia]

HI All! Thanks so much for your tips and advice. I did get mama's to move into a new ground nest/pen and they are perfectly content and happy it seems. I think they are really liking having a little more room to spread out.

Three babes so far! Did I already say that? I'm just so happy and proud as punch of my first time mama's.

I did seize the opportunity to snap a quick pic of our little one who (repeatedly) popped out of the nest.

And I also snapped a pic of them all settled down and happy on the nest. The blue+purple arrows are pointing at 2 of the babes, and the green arrow is pointing at a baby whose little bill and head you can see. : )))

Thanks again, for your help and the congrats.

glad it came out good, love the pics and can't wait to hear final count. All the best! precious pics

 

[Going Quackers]

HI All! Thanks so much for your tips and advice. I did get mama's to move into a new ground nest/pen and they are perfectly content and happy it seems. I think they are really liking having a little more room to spread out.

Three babes so far! Did I already say that? I'm just so happy and proud as punch of my first time mama's.

I did seize the opportunity to snap a quick pic of our little one who (repeatedly) popped out of the nest.

And I also snapped a pic of them all settled down and happy on the nest. The blue+purple arrows are pointing at 2 of the babes, and the green arrow is pointing at a baby whose little bill and head you can see. : )))

Thanks again, for your help and the congrats.

Super adorable! i hope all continues well for rest of the hatch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Super adorable! i hope all continues well for rest of the hatch.

Quackers I keep trying to run you down all over this board, whats the News?

 

[LydiaB]

I have a broody question. My Khaki Campbell duck has been laying her eggs in a secluded place for several days. She gets locked up about 8 every night, and released about 8 in the morning. I believe she laid her egg yesterday afternoon, that is how I found her nest. I saw her come out of where her nest is but I didn't look until this morning. There are about 6 eggs in it. Since she is waiting until she is released to lay her eggs, does that mean she is broody? If she is going broody, I will let her, but if not I would like to gather the eggs. I don't want them to just rot. Also, I have a drake but have not seen them mating recently, so would the eggs be fertile? I saw them mating when we first got them, but not for a couple of months. Are they just doing it in secret? I am home all day, so I see them off and on all day. Whenever I can located them.
Thanks!

 

[Going Quackers]

Miss Lydia..

There are two babies under lilly this morning!!!!

It looks like another egg has a crack so there could very well be a third... she is sat tight so it was super hard to get to peek under her... Poor lilac has nothing yet, just two eggs left... she looks so bewildered hearing the babies... of coarse these were her's

If you recall we did 'steal' some back and give them to her in hopes she gets to try again after the rubber ducky dying.. we shall see.. i guess.

Now the harder part, seeing if they go the distance... i'm excited but reserved just in case it ends in er.. the loss of them all. I have some pics but they are terrible.. we couldn't get a good opportunity, i will continue to check throughout the day of coarse.

HOw is your newest fairing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia..

There are two babies under lilly this morning!!!!

It looks like another egg has a crack so there could very well be a third... she is sat tight so it was super hard to get to peek under her... Poor lilac has nothing yet, just two eggs left... she looks so bewildered hearing the babies... of coarse these were her's

If you recall we did 'steal' some back and give them to her in hopes she gets to try again after the rubber ducky dying.. we shall see.. i guess.

Now the harder part, seeing if they go the distance... i'm excited but reserved just in case it ends in er.. the loss of them all. I have some pics but they are terrible.. we couldn't get a good opportunity, i will continue to check throughout the day of coarse.

HOw is your newest fairing?

What about getting the one thats has the crack and slipping it under lilac? just a thopught and so happy for you will be waiting for updates..

 

[Going Quackers]

What about getting the one thats has the crack and slipping it under lilac? just a thopught and so happy for you will be waiting for updates..

Oh you present such dangerous ideas!

My husband was gentle nudging her with a feather(yes his weapon of choice, he's all i don't want her to bite me.. sure, you know they don't have teeth right? LOL) to see what she had and she was less than pleased i doubt i could get an egg.

Definitely, keep you posted.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh you present such dangerous ideas!

My husband was gentle nudging her with a feather(yes his weapon of choice, he's all i don't want her to bite me.. sure, you know they don't have teeth right? LOL) to see what she had and she was less than pleased i doubt i could get an egg.

Definitely, keep you posted.

Put on Gloves you can do it, That way liliac will have a duckling too. I know they hurt when they pinch. but it would only take a minute and just think how happy she would be.

 

[HomeGrownGudLif]

Hey all,
I have yet another question.. or few...

After how long should I consider all the babes to be done hatching? My ducks are still sitting on about 12 eggs, after 3 hatched yesterday afternoon. I candled one egg and it looked alive, had the veins barely visible and mostly a dark (moving!) blob, with a small air pocket. Should I just wait till moms leave the nest or call it done after two days or something?

Also, I had planned on selling the ducklings (maybe keeping a few though..) but now I am really sad/worried about the affect this might have on the mamas.. Does anyone do this and see their chickens/ducks feeling sad or such - or do they seem to be relieved or oblivious?

Thanks all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey all,
I have yet another question.. or few...

After how long should I consider all the babes to be done hatching? My ducks are still sitting on about 12 eggs, after 3 hatched yesterday afternoon. I candled one egg and it looked alive, had the veins barely visible and mostly a dark (moving!) blob, with a small air pocket. Should I just wait till moms leave the nest or call it done after two days or something?

Also, I had planned on selling the ducklings (maybe keeping a few though..) but now I am really sad/worried about the affect this might have on the mamas.. Does anyone do this and see their chickens/ducks feeling sad or such - or do they seem to be relieved or oblivious?

Thanks all.

At this stage you shouldn't be able to see much but a blob. I'd give it a few more day then candle again. this is what your air cell should look like right before hatch. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=duck...0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:75&tx=83&ty=48