Piggy back nesting

[B_Chickle01]

Do you want to break her?

Yes. I would like to break only one of the two in picture. The one who just started to sit not one who’s been sitting on them all long.

 

[Weeg]

Was that just from them rustling in nesting box? Or one pecked others eggs?

Ya, that was from them, (and 2 other ducks who joined the community nest later) fighting over the nest.

 

[Weeg]

When I break broody's, I just take the eggs everyday and kick them off the nest. Then destroy the nest. Usually they have the nest remade and are sitting again then next day, but I just repeat the routine until they give up. If they're still taking forever, I put ice cubes in the nest.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes. I would like to break only one of the two in picture. The one who just started to sit not one who’s been sitting on them all long.

Remove and cage the one you want to break.

Broody jail: Put her in an isolation cage with some food and water, in sight of the others (in the coop if it's not too hot or in/near the run is ideal). A wire cage elevated to air flow under her would be the best option, however I've used everything from a brooder to a dog exercise pen.

Keep her in the cage around the clock for about 2 days. At that time, if she's shows fewer signs of broodiness (puffing up, flattening down and growling, tik tik tik noise) you can let her out to test her. If she runs back to the nest at any point (usually they don't do it immediately, but maybe after 15 minutes, maybe an hour) then she's not yet sufficiently broken and needs to go back to the cage for another 24 hours. Then let her out and test her again. Repeat until she's no longer going to the nest box.

IF the isolation cage is not safe for overnight stay (i.e. sits outside the run) then put her on the roost at night, and retrieve her from the nest box the next morning and put her back in the cage. It may take a little longer this way but better than letting a predator get to her.