Question about "broodiness"

[Goat_Walker]

Ok, I have a 12 m/o buff duck, an she is sitting on 15+ eggs.
Now, does the 28 days thing start when the egg is laid, or when she is done laying all she wants and starts sitting on them?


Becuase im not sure when they are due exactly to hatch and with this weather id like to know, lol

 

[shelleyd2008]

just like with chickens eggs, they start the day the duck starts setting on them. So they'll be due about 28 days after. If it's cold where you are, they may take longer, and if it's exceptionally dry, they could be sooner.

 

[Goat_Walker]

its cold and damp. But she is in a kennel that is on a platform about 6 in off the ground. She has dry hay and its warm in there, sort of.


(sorry we are having a big argument at home about this)

But, is it like she lays the first egg, then it has 28 days, then the second egg has 28 days so they hatch a day after each other, or does she set once she has laid all the eggs and then they all hatch the same day?

 

[DuckLady]

When she is down and settled on the nest like glue, then you start counting for all the eggs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

No, she lays however many she is going to lay, then she sets on them. That way they will all hatch more or less at the same time. If you have others, though, they might lay eggs with her. I'm not sure if ducks do that or not, you may want to mark them just to be safe.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Oh, and I wouldn't worry about her getting too cold. As long as she is out of the wind, she should be fine. I had a broody hen that just hatched 8 of 8 eggs about a week ago, and it's been mostly 40's and 50's then. And they hatched a day early. So she'll be fine where she's at.

 

[Goat_Walker]

Ok! great. then Looks like im going to have Christmas ducklings!

She has been setting for about 2 weeks.


Ok, now, what is the probability that all 14+ eggs will hatch?
She has laid 2 different clutches before but out of 35+ eggs only one has hatched. But she has never set on her eggs like this. seems she is determined that these will hatch.

Should I be concerned with her smothering them or pushing them out of her nest since she has so many eggs?

 

[Goat_Walker]

Ive only got the one little girl so i dont have to worry about anyone sharing a nest.
Its been in the high 20's low 30's here, but she is good any out of all wind and water.