Pirate ducklings with chicken mama!

[aart]

Random question, once the eggs hatch does the broody eat the shells and remnants? I assume she does, but don’t actually know! It’s something no one really seems to talk about but I know many mama animals eat the after birth and at this time of their lives really need the nutrition, I would think a depleted broody would as well.

Yes, she will eat the shells.
I usually remove them as the chicks hatch....carefully, without causing too much discord, but my broodies are 'trained' to accept my 'interference'.
This last hatch it was kinda crowded under there, I think she was glad to get them out of the way for more 'foot room'. 7 chicks hatched but I only pulled 6 shells, she must have eaten the other one...tho I haven't really cleaned out the nest yet(been one week today).

Oh, and...I don't candle much with broodies either, usually just once at about 10 days to pull any duds.

 

[PirateGirl]

11 days until hatch day!!!

I stole one egg to candle and I think I’m in love already. How am I going to give away all these ducklings!?!? When I tap on the shell with my fingertip it moves all around inside! Photos are harder to take as the egg is darker in general. The air cell looks noticeably larger than before. All these pics are the same egg, I left the rest alone.

 

[Kiki]

View attachment 1803846 View attachment 1803847 11 days until hatch day!!!

I stole one egg to candle and I think I’m in love already. How am I going to give away all these ducklings!?!? When I tap on the shell with my fingertip it moves all around inside! Photos are harder to take as the egg is darker in general. The air cell looks noticeably larger than before. All these pics are the same egg, I left the rest alone.

Isn't it just fabulous to see it moving in there?

 

[icyangel222]

Ha! When I saw the thread title I thought it was some breed of ducks I never heard of before and clicked on it to see what it looked like. "Pirate Ducks".

 

[PirateGirl]

One more week!

I was gone over the weekend and came back to my broody with a bloody comb, but all seems well and she is still sitting.

Also there was a chicken sign in my living room that my husband picked up for me at a garage sale! I'll have to get a pic later.

 

[PirateGirl]

and maybe I'll steal an egg to candle again tonight, just one little peak at one jumbo egg.

 

[Kiki]

and maybe I'll steal an egg to candle again tonight, just one little peak at one jumbo egg.

 

[PirateGirl]

 

[PirateGirl]

Day 21: I stole one egg this morning to candle and it was dancing!

 

[Knighstar679]

Day 21: I stole one egg this morning to candle and it was dancing!

They look so good!