One muscovy hen is sitting, but the other two aren't laying?

[ChadCarr]

Hello,

I have a small flock of muscovies (3 hens and one drake) that have been laying well. Once they got up to 15 eggs, one hen started sitting before the others. The other two continued to lay eggs, but they would only lay them in the same nest box the broody hen was using. They were also a 'little' broody, in that they make the high pitched squeaks, and "help" sit on the eggs, even though they were still laying. Watching all three hens crowd into a single nest box was quite the sight!

I didn't want the other two ducks to continue laying in the 'main' nest, since I had to disturb the one hen every day to find the new eggs. So, I rigged some netting through the coop and pen, dividing it into two (with separate water and food for both sides). After a day or so of some very, very annoyed ducks, they gave up interest in getting over to the nest boxes, and stopped acting broody, so I undid the netting.

It's been almost two weeks since then, and they continue to not act broody, but they have also stopped laying. The drake is still mating with them, I'm just wondering when they will start laying again, and if there is anything I could do to get them started sooner.

I have about two weeks to go (more or less); three eggs clearly weren't developing, but I have a dozen good looking eggs under the one hen right now!

Thanks for any advice you have!

Chad

 

[KAZROB]

Hi,
I am not overly experienced or an expert, but I do have ducks and I have had broody ducks and also had ducklings born. I recently had a broody duck and as I did not want anymore, I took the eggs when I noticed she was sitting on them, then she just continued to sit daily for almost 40 days on no eggs! , I would go out each day and take her off her nest and get her to mingle a bit, eventually one day she was out on her own, now that was almost 6 weeks ago now and she had only just started to lay again. They will start laying again in time, it just may take a few weeks.....

Also as you are nearing some hatchlings, just FYI one of my Muscovy ducks sat on her eggs for 45 Days, I took note when she started to sit and had worked out her time, but nope, she went 45 days, it was my first nest and I was in such a dilemma and I was a little frightened to take the eggs, candle the eggs etc (not now) but I was then as my Muscovy mum was very protective of her eggs, so I didn't dare upset her at the fear of being bitten lol so I just let her sit thinking the eggs were no longer viable and in time she will get off, well surprise surprise 45 days to the dot of her sitting and that's only from when I noticed, she had seven beautiful ducklings! Good luck and they will lay again in their own time...spoil them with their fav food, such as peas in water.....

 

[ChadCarr]

Thanks! I assumed they'd pretty much start again when they felt like it, I was just hoping otherwise!

Chad

 

[ChadCarr]

Well, both the other hens started laying again! Go figure. Thanks for the advice, "clearly" that's what they needed!

 

[KAZROB]

FANTABULOUS! and you didn't have to wait toooooooooooooo long, how great! Good luck with your flock and thanks for the update