Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[Going Quackers]

Is it normal/OK for 2 ducks to sharing brooding duty(and have it turn out positive)?Curious of chances of any hatches as my 2 WH hens take turns sitting on eggs now. After the 1 hen didn't come home 3 nights ago I found her and she is now penned and is sharing sit duty. Will candle soon(was going to do it last night but too soon I think?) and discard any probable duds and maybe more(10 original eggs)

I don't think it's out there but when two of mine did it/>? ended badly.. sorry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it normal/OK for 2 ducks to sharing brooding duty(and have it turn out positive)?Curious of chances of any hatches as my 2 WH hens take turns sitting on eggs now. After the 1 hen didn't come home 3 nights ago I found her and she is now penned and is sharing sit duty. Will candle soon(was going to do it last night but too soon I think?) and discard any probable duds and maybe more(10 original eggs)

I have never had my ducks do this but a couple of my chickens did and it turned out good. I'm sure others can give you advice on this. Glad you were able to find her and get her safe.

 

[stonykill]

Would you ever sell me hatching eggs from your runners? I really want to hatch ducks this summer and it would be cool to have a bunch of different breeds.

I absolutely will. 1st Miss Penelope has to start laying again. But absolutely I will.

 

[chooniecat]

I have never had my ducks do this but a couple of my chickens did and it turned out good. I'm sure others can give you advice on this. Glad you were able to find her and get her safe.

Well-am not experienced at duck nesting behavior at all and just had a broody chicken hatch some-and now a couple of my chickens are definitly broody(after several years of NO such behavior) so its something in the water! The WH duck had been disappearing during the day for several days(why I am not sure of viability of these eggs but...) and when she disappeared at night the FIRST night I gave up hope because I hadn't a clue. Next night(duh) I checked brush pile 50' from house because during the day one of my dogs was chased by the OTHER WH duck away from the pile so THAT was a clue.There she was quiet as a rock until I finally dug out enough brush to reach her and she was NOT happy. So transferred her and 10 eggs to pen and there her and other duck have been hogging nest (and duck eggs seem so much thicker shelled than chicken) I hope to get egg count down asap and if ANY show life will let them stay.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well-am not experienced at duck nesting behavior at all and just had a broody chicken hatch some-and now a couple of my chickens are definitly broody(after several years of NO such behavior) so its something in the water! The WH duck had been disappearing during the day for several days(why I am not sure of viability of these eggs but...) and when she disappeared at night the FIRST night I gave up hope because I hadn't a clue. Next night(duh) I checked brush pile 50' from house because during the day one of my dogs was chased by the OTHER WH duck away from the pile so THAT was a clue.There she was quiet as a rock until I finally dug out enough brush to reach her and she was NOT happy. So transferred her and 10 eggs to pen and there her and other duck have been hogging nest (and duck eggs seem so much thicker shelled than chicken) I hope to get egg count down asap and if ANY show life will let them stay.

I don't know how duckling can get through those thick eggs. Is the drake a WH too? I hope you get some ducklings be sure to keep us updated on events.

 

[HomeGrownGudLif]

Hey all! I don't know what to do and hopefully you can help!

So I have two Khakis that went broody (amazing I know!!) at the same time, on the same nest (not so amazing...) I wasn't sure if any of the babies would even hatch and at last thank all that has good the day has arrived and I have 3 so far. My problem is - I already found one babe that had fallen out of the nest and couldn't get back in (they are about 6 or so inches off the ground), and I am worried that they will have a hard time getting to food and water and such. Is it safe for me to move them when all have hatched to a contained floor nest? I never moved them because I read it is already so rare for a khaki to go broody (and stay with it) and it's impossible to get them to switch nests. And now I am stuck... But my of my are those babes beautiful... I haven't seen babies hatch since kindergarten (about 15 years ago or so.. haha) it is a wonderful thing to experience and makes me feel so honored. I hope that someone can help me... Thanks!!!

Old pic of the duckie mamas when they first started sitting...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey all! I don't know what to do and hopefully you can help!

So I have two Khakis that went broody (amazing I know!!) at the same time, on the same nest (not so amazing...) I wasn't sure if any of the babies would even hatch and at last thank all that has good the day has arrived and I have 3 so far. My problem is - I already found one babe that had fallen out of the nest and couldn't get back in (they are about 6 or so inches off the ground), and I am worried that they will have a hard time getting to food and water and such. Is it safe for me to move them when all have hatched to a contained floor nest? I never moved them because I read it is already so rare for a khaki to go broody (and stay with it) and it's impossible to get them to switch nests. And now I am stuck... But my of my are those babes beautiful... I haven't seen babies hatch since kindergarten (about 15 years ago or so.. haha) it is a wonderful thing to experience and makes me feel so honored. I hope that someone can help me... Thanks!!!

Old pic of the duckie mamas when they first started sitting...

I only have one duck that just hatched duckling but because of where she was in the duck house I had to move her and her duckling today Duckling hatched yesterday. I moved them to a small coop where they can be by themselves with food and water and no one else can get into it. If they are still hatching I would say go ahead and move if you have already found one out of the nest and no way to get back in you surely don't want to lose any. I really don't see how you have a choice. I was worried my mama duck would be real upset and not settle down but i just checked right before I came on line and she has settled down. Might be best to do this at dark too. Forgot to say Congrats!!

 

[larkflying]

And, just maybe, you can convince one momma duck to stay on the eggs, and move the other momma duck with the ducklings . . . sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't . . .

 

[Miss Lydia]

And, just maybe, you can convince one momma duck to stay on the eggs, and move the other momma duck with the ducklings . . . sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't . . .

Did you move duckling in with mama duck her ducklings? how'd it go?

 

[HomeGrownGudLif]

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.