Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[EmilyP]

Very good reasons for keeping her and ducklings as safe as possible. I remember now her breed. such pretty ducklings too.  Well I'd keep her inside for now and try giving her more room on the outside of the dog house.  How are the ducklings doing today hopefully okay after being separated from mom for a while. No telling what may have prompted her into going over the fence hopefully she won't do it again.. Is she being a good mom and relaxed around her ducklings. 

We let her out all afternoon with the babies in the pen and that seems to be doing good! She is protective of the babies and if she gives the quack they all run under her! I thought our pekin drake would be fine with the babies since he is so chill but I showed him one and he hissed and snapped at it :-( so no joint custody for him!

Momma and 4 day old babies

 

[Miss Lydia]

We let her out all afternoon with the babies in the pen and that seems to be doing good! She is protective of the babies and if she gives the quack they all run under her! I thought our pekin drake would be fine with the babies since he is so chill but I showed him one and he hissed and snapped at it :-( so no joint custody for him!


Momma and 4 day old babies

Awesome pic and such adorable babies..

Yeah drakes can be so unpredictable, my Muscovy drake is scared of ducklings and gets out of the way fast when he sees mom and babies heading his way but I have never tried to put them all in close quarters I don't think that would go over well.

 

[Louise Waffles]

Waffles lost all of her eggs she was setting on. I checked on her, everything was fine, and a few hours later, all four eggs were just....gone. She was very upset, and her face has been pecked. I know it was one or more of those f*cking chickens. Waffles was in a panic, circling the coop, peeping, then going in the coop looking in her nest. I took the whole thing out, looked through all of the straw, and NOTHING was left but a little goo. These eggs were 8 days from hatch. I'd give her some duck eggs (she was on chicken eggs), but I 'm afraid the same thing will happen. The chickens are getting meaner, demanding her nest, and pecking her face. Also, she's already been setting a while, and Muscovy eggs would be another 35? days to hatch, I'd be worried about her health...right now I'm worried she'll lose her mind. She is sitting on an empty nest, I had just finished washing all the duck eggs I had. Advice?

 

[Ren2014]

Waffles lost all of her eggs she was setting on. I checked on her, everything was fine, and a few hours later, all four eggs were just....gone. She was very upset, and her face has been pecked. I know it was one or more of those f*cking chickens. Waffles was in a panic, circling the coop, peeping, then going in the coop looking in her nest. I took the whole thing out, looked through all of the straw, and NOTHING was left but a little goo. These eggs were 8 days from hatch. I'd give her some duck eggs (she was on chicken eggs), but I 'm afraid the same thing will happen. The chickens are getting meaner, demanding her nest, and pecking her face. Also, she's already been setting a while, and Muscovy eggs would be another 35? days to hatch, I'd be worried about her health...right now I'm worried she'll lose her mind. She is sitting on an empty nest, I had just finished washing all the duck eggs I had. Advice?

So sorry to read this. Poor Waffles. Do you have rat/chicken snakes, or rats there? This sounds more like some kind of predator than chickens. Nothing of the eggs remained?

 

[Louise Waffles]

So sorry to read this.  Poor Waffles.  Do you have rat/chicken snakes, or rats there?  This sounds more like some kind of predator than chickens.  Nothing of the eggs remained?

The only thing I've seen was a young ribbon snake killed in the cat habitat.... The kids were playing outside, and it was 6:00 or so, still very bright outside. The chickens have been wanting her nest box since I gave it to her, I wonder if they broke the eggs in a squabble and someone cleaned up? There was some egg mess, but no shells. I am so sad for her....

 

[dan26552]

May I join?

Big Mama just hatched her second clutch. They're 12 days old.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The only thing I've seen was a young ribbon snake killed in the cat habitat.... The kids were playing outside, and it was 6:00 or so, still very bright outside. The chickens have been wanting her nest box since I gave it to her, I wonder if they broke the eggs in a squabble and someone cleaned up? There was some egg mess, but no shells. I am so sad for her....

She may nave broken them herself chickens eggs would have a hard time standing up to a muscovy duck standing on them turning them. My goose Had 3 Runner duck eggs in her nest and she was too heavy for them and one broke. once an egg or eggs breaks then it's a free for all for the chickens. I wouldn't let her start over give her a break and then give her a place where the chickens can't get to her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

May I join?

Big Mama just hatched her second clutch. They're 12 days old.

Adorable Dan.

 

[dan26552]

Adorable Dan.

 

[Louise Waffles]

@Miss Lydia, last year one of my muscovies hatched some chicks for me without incident. I was so hoping it would work this year, as my favorite naked necks are getting older and I want their babies. Last year though, it was a different duck, she did a great job. Waffles, not so much.
Anyway, Waffles has just straight lost her mind. I pulled her from the run, and set her up in my garden with a pool and a good looking drake. She happily got herself all cleaned up, like she normally would, the started that sumo wrestler walk, the peeping, and trying to push her way through the fence. How to stop a Muscovy being broody? I am tempted to let her brood duck eggs in my bathroom. And hand feed her. And let her swim in my bathtub.