Pirate ducklings with chicken mama!

[aart]

Have a partition wall for setting until about a week after hatch.
Partition area has a separate run...nice for broody to be able to dust bathe and poop outside.

 

[PirateGirl]

Have a partition wall for setting until about a week after hatch.
Partition area has a separate run...nice for broody to be able to dust bathe and poop outside.

Hmm... I don't know if that's quite possible, but it certainly gives me something to think about. There's only one pop door/ramp into the run from the coop, but there is a window I could open and probably add a ramp to so each half of the coop (once divided) would have access to the run.

 

[PirateGirl]

So is it safe to assume my broody is getting off the nest at some point in the day to eat and drink even though I don't witness it? I mean, I can't watch her all the time.

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

So is it safe to assume my broody is getting off the nest at some point in the day to eat and drink even though I don't witness it? I mean, I can't watch her all the time.

I know my duck is. I don't know how chickens do.

 

[aart]

So is it safe to assume my broody is getting off the nest at some point in the day to eat and drink even though I don't witness it? I mean, I can't watch her all the time.

If she is separated from the flock it's pretty easy to tell.....by the huge stinky poop they leave when getting up. And by the food dish level changing, when I refill I smooth the top...and I use a nipple bottle with the level marked.

All 3 of the broodies I've let hatch, I have had to rouse all of them off the nest at about Day 4. I know I know, many say you shouldn't do that, but<shrugs> I did it anyway.
One I had to hold up to the waterer and poke it, she came out of her trance, drank like mad then ran around eating bathing pooping and back to nest, then came off on her own every day or two.

ETA: these were chickens not ducks.

 

[PirateGirl]

I witnessed my broody come out into the run this morning. Then She quickly returned to the coop to oversee my ameraucana Deposit her daily egg in the broody nest

 

[CrazyCrttr75]

View attachment 1797654 View attachment 1797664 I witnessed my broody come out into the run this morning. Then She quickly returned to the coop to oversee my ameraucana Deposit her daily egg in the broody nest

My duck Annabelle is seriously sitting now. Like constantly. I think we have 8 eggs. My other duck keeps trying to lay in the nest. I may try to candle later on to see if I see anything. It may be too early yet, idk. I will wait for her to get off the nest, which isn't very often at this point. I'll post pictures if I can.

 

[PirateGirl]

My duck Annabelle is seriously sitting now. Like constantly. I think we have 8 eggs. My other duck keeps trying to lay in the nest. I may try to candle later on to see if I see anything. It may be too early yet, idk. I will wait for her to get off the nest, which isn't very often at this point. I'll post pictures if I can.

I candled exactly one week after I gave her the eggs and it was very obvious that they were developing. Mark the ones you want to leave in the nest and steal any new eggs daily. You don’t want an accidental staggered hatch because once the first batch hatches mama may not stick on the nest long enough for any late arrivals! I was planning to candle again last night (among other things) but all plans went out the window when I broke my finger!! My husband then had to run around and catch my ducks one at a time to lock them up for the night.

 

[chickens really]

My Call Hen is setting and get up and runs around. I don't block her off till right before hatching. I prefer dog crates that I can move once hatch date is close.

 

[PirateGirl]

My Call Hen is setting and get up and runs around. I don't block her off till right before hatching. I prefer dog crates that I can move once hatch date is close.

I’m leaning this direction. I have an extra large dog crate I have used as a booder, see no touch divider, drake jail. Setting it up for the broody closer to hatch is definitely going to be easier than dividing up the existing coop/run. How many eggs will you giver her? Has she hatched before?