Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[Miss Lydia]

My duck's broody, and she just....She'd be an amazing mother. She sat on them through a storm last night. She has woven her own feathers into her nest. She'd be an awesome mother. But the eggs are overdue. Well over a month now. They don't smell rotten, so they can't be bad. She's still super protective of them, and she wouldn't be if they were bad or not fertile, right? But she's been sitting on them for so long. A few days ago, it looked like she was expecting something to happen. She stood up by the nest and turned them a bit, and then just looked at them. Like she was ready for them to hatch. She has a giant pen for her and the babies to stay until they're large enough for the creek, she has a plenty of hay on the bottom of her pen and she has food and water. I have everything planned for these babies.

Any advice?

Have you tried to candle them, I'm no good at candling but at this stage i would try. also there the float test. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching and yes i think they just might sit on them till they exploded they are so determined.

 

[ForeverSunshine]

Have you tried to candle them, I'm no good at candling but at this stage i would try. also there the float test. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching and yes i think they just might sit on them till they exploded they are so determined.

Well, I wanted to candle them...But she won't let me near them. I have no way to get a hold of one. That kinda sucks. I keep sitting on this cinder block near her pen, and I'm like, "Hatch already!!!!!!!". She is just bound and determined to hatch them.....I guess maybe she can't after all....

 

[Going Quackers]

Have you tried to candle them, I'm no good at candling but at this stage i would try. also there the float test. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching and yes i think they just might sit on them till they exploded they are so determined.

I need to try this with the two Lilac has.. thanks for the link!

 

[Going Quackers]

Well, I wanted to candle them...But she won't let me near them. I have no way to get a hold of one. That kinda sucks. I keep sitting on this cinder block near her pen, and I'm like, "Hatch already!!!!!!!". She is just bound and determined to hatch them.....I guess maybe she can't after all....

Honestly, your going to have to if this has been going on this long you do need to know.. i know with my duck last round i finally had to pull the remaining 3 eggs they were no good!

 

[Sasa]

What beautiful ducks, congrats on the babies!

 

[Margot50]

This is Daphne, my broody blue head Australian spotted hen in her litter pan. Every day I collect the good (ie clean) feathers in the run and deliver them to the nest. She hisses etc but then after I go, tucks them around her nest. Right now she has the eight eggs in two different stages of developement so far as I can tell by candling. The older ones are moving, and it is not subtle, like someone is swimming. Regarding the not seeing anything, I didn't til I got a really strong flashlight, and buried my head, the eggs and the light in a black bag. She does not like me doing it, but I think it is probalby good to get her out. She runs to the feeder and gobbles then to the "pond" and swims.

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This is the duck end of the run, with nest box and "pond" The gray call is Crispy, the very lowest on the pecking order.

 

[Margot50]

I ned a proof reader for sure!
Daphne is a blue head australian spotted
And she does not like me kicking her off the nest to candle her eggs.
plus numerous typos....sigh

 

[DuckLover3]

This is Daphne, by broody blue hea Australian sprotted in her litter pan. Every day I collect the good (ie clean) feathers in teh run and deliver them to the nest. She hisses etc but then asfter I go tucks them around her. Right now she has the eight eggs in two different stages of developement so far as i can tell by candling. The older ones are moving, and it is not subtle, like someone is swimming. Regarding the no seeing anything, I didn't til I got a really strong flashlight, and buried my head, the eggs and the light in a black bag. She does like me doing it, but I think it is probalby good to get her out. She runs to the feeder and gobbles then to the "pond" and swims.

.
This is the duck end of the run, with "pond" The gray call is Crispy, the very lowest on the pecking order.

Wow, she's beautiful! You're guna have some cute ducklings!

 

[ForeverSunshine]

Honestly, your going to have to if this has been going on this long you do need to know.. i know with my duck last round i finally had to pull the remaining 3 eggs they were no good!

I guess I need to find a way to get a hold of them. There's no reason why they shouldn't hatch. I can understand only a few hatching because it's her first time, but none of them?

 

[Going Quackers]

This is Daphne, by broody blue hea Australian sprotted in her litter pan. Every day I collect the good (ie clean) feathers in teh run and deliver them to the nest. She hisses etc but then asfter I go tucks them around her. Right now she has the eight eggs in two different stages of developement so far as i can tell by candling. The older ones are moving, and it is not subtle, like someone is swimming. Regarding the no seeing anything, I didn't til I got a really strong flashlight, and buried my head, the eggs and the light in a black bag. She does like me doing it, but I think it is probalby good to get her out. She runs to the feeder and gobbles then to the "pond" and swims.

.
This is the duck end of the run, with "pond" The gray call is Crispy, the very lowest on the pecking order.

what a pretty girl!