Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[boadicea]

She goes back to the nest and sits on the eggs with the babies. But she's off more than she's been since she started brooding. It's now been about 2 hours, but she was off the nest about 6 times yesterday. I've been totally surprised by the drakes. They sleep in a circle around her nest at night and guard her and the chicks from the cats and dog and the "baby" Muscovy while mama and ducklings wander the yard. The "baby" Muscovy is 8 weeks old and bigger than the mallards, now. Lol! Anyway, should I candle the other brooding duck's eggs, as well? She's about a week behind her sister, I think.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She goes back to the nest and sits on the eggs with the babies. But she's off more than she's been since she started brooding. It's now been about 2 hours, but she was off the nest about 6 times yesterday. I've been totally surprised by the drakes. They sleep in a circle around her nest at night and guard her and the chicks from the cats and dog and the "baby" Muscovy while mama and ducklings wander the yard. The "baby" Muscovy is 8 weeks old and bigger than the mallards, now. Lol! Anyway, should I candle the other brooding duck's eggs, as well? She's about a week behind her sister, I think.

Too bad they aren't closer together in hatch times you could slip these eggs under your other broody.. Okay well If it's real hot where you are she may not need to be sitting consistently on the eggs she could over cook them. So give these eggs say till Monday then re candle.

If you want to see if any of the other mamas eggs are still good not about to explode I'd candle there is a chart on this thread that shows where the eggs will be in progression.

 

[boadicea]

Well, it seems she is off her nest for awhile. She's currently sleeping in the pen with the ducklings, across from her nest. It's been rather cool this year. Today it's not going to reach 70 here and it's overcast. I'm in Washington State.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, it seems she is off her nest for awhile. She's currently sleeping in the pen with the ducklings, across from her nest. It's been rather cool this year. Today it's not going to reach 70 here and it's overcast. I'm in Washington State.

I'd say she is done then and the others won't make it unless you can get them in a bator. I'm sorry .

 

[Macleant]

Thank you miss lydia. I have been watching them close. Today was able to get to them and candle them again! The small one has definately changed and the large egg is different too. When i turned the large egg to get the light to shine through I felt something fall and coluld see a little beak and head!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you miss lydia. I have been watching them close. Today was able to get to them and candle them again! The small one has definately changed and the large egg is different too. When i turned the large egg to get the light to shine through I felt something fall and coluld see a little beak and head!

Thanks for update, any idea when hatch day may be? @Macleant

 

[EmilyP]

No one has posted on here in a while but it seems like the right forum for my question!!

Does anyone notice that their broody girls don't follow incubation day guidelines? We are on day 30 now only 1 egg has been kicked out and 1 I removed. Last fall she sat for almost an extra week but it was also very cold.... she is not happy with me bothering her to look at eggs and I don't have a good place to candle (dark enough)

 

[Louise Waffles]

No one has posted on here in a while but it seems like the right forum for my question!!

Does anyone notice that their broody girls don't follow incubation day guidelines? We are on day 30 now only 1 egg has been kicked out and 1 I removed. Last fall she sat for almost an extra week but it was also very cold.... she is not happy with me bothering her to look at eggs and I don't have a good place to candle (dark enough)

I had eggs from the same clutch hatch five days apart last year. FIVE. I went outside at night to candle the eggs. No traveling with them, and it's plenty dark.

 

[EmilyP]

I had eggs from the same clutch hatch five days apart last year. FIVE. I went outside at night to candle the eggs. No traveling with them, and it's plenty dark.

Oh wow. I was able to get halfway into her house yesterday and that was dark enough. Was able to smell test 2 earlier and threw them out and then candlong 1 had no development and two were rotten so that's 7 total I've removed now. 6 I could see foot development maybe day 27-28 with little breathing movement happening. There were still 8 more I didn't get to before she came back to sit. So we'll see hopefully we are close!

 

[Louise Waffles]

Oh wow. I was able to get halfway into her house yesterday and that was dark enough. Was able to smell test 2 earlier and threw them out and then candlong 1 had no development and two were rotten so that's 7 total I've removed now. 6 I could see foot development maybe day 27-28 with little breathing movement happening. There were still 8 more I didn't get to before she came back to sit. So we'll see hopefully we are close!

Good luck on your hatch!