Question pg.3:My Aussie Spot duck pushed 3 eggs out...What to do?

[sianara]

Congrats on getting eggs. It is sooooo exciting!

I have a year old pair of blueheads I got from Holderread's last October. My female also started laying about 2 weeks ago. I'm saving all her eggs to decorate. I was hoping she might start to set this spring/summer but now I'm wondering if she won't go broody unless I leave eggs for her to sit on? I know my bantam chickens will go broody with or without eggs to sit on.

Hmm, what is your (everyone's) experience with the Aussie spots going broody??? Do you find they need to eggs to instigate broodiness?

 

[chickenlisa]

I think they do...my Mandies and Blue Swedish only started sitting (24/7-serious setting) once they had a bunch of eggs in their nests.
I'm still wondering if she'll lay more eggs this year after setting, hatching, and raising ducklings (if that happens.)

 

[chickenlisa]

Quote:
Anyone know?

 

[CityChicker]

It depends a lot on the individual bird. It also depends on how long the ducklings are left with her and the time of year. Mine generally really slow down their laying come early to mid summer. Sometimes, they restart again in the Fall, but do a shorter cycle of egg laying. If you remove the ducklings from her by late spring, she may very well go back to laying.

 

[chickenlisa]

Thanks! I'll see what happens....I'm not even sure if these eggs are fertile, if she'll set, or if any ducklings will hatch.
I'm sure hoping all 3 are true though!

 

[chickenlisa]

16 eggs today! She is in there for hours all morning long for the past week, then I see her out and hanging out with the drake all afternoon lately. I'm sure hoping she will go in and set 24/7 soon. I'm wondering how many eggs she thinks she can sit on and keep warm though!
I'm going nuts!

 

[chickenlisa]

ok, today she was hardly out at all. When I saw her out with the male, I checked the eggs and there were 17

and they were all in 1 layer, as opposed to stacked in 2 layers like yesterday. I looked for any dirty ones, so I could take out the oldest eggs and leave her a more manageable pile to sit on, but they are all so clean and I can't see anything different about any of them. I left them all and went to pick up my son from track practice. When I got back, she was back on the eggs. So

that she has begun her time of sitting and incubating them. I'm still not sure about taking any out, but she's in a big dog house, in a cat litter bucket on its side, so maybe they'll stay warmer that way and she can keep them all up to the right temp. I don't know, it seems like alot for a banty duck. If anyone has any experience with Aussie Spots, please advise. I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Lisa

 

[CityChicker]

How exciting! That is a lot to set on for a bantam duck. I can't imagine she is covering them all. It really is a judgement call as to whether or not to pull some. I have never seen any of our ducks successfully hatch that many though.

 

[chickenlisa]

you think I should maybe wait a few days, take the cat litter bucket inside to candle the eggs when she's off the nest, then pull any that look clear? I think I could do a better job indoors and put each good egg back where it was in the nest if I take the whole bucket. Is 12 a good number to leave for her?

 

[CityChicker]

I wouldn't do that. I never disturb my broody ducks as in my experience, they are more likely to abandon their nests then really broody chickens will. That is part of the judgment call, LOL. I would be more inclined to just remove a couple eggs, leaving her with 12-14. I think pulling the pan out and taking it inside might result in her not feeling safe enough to continue once it was replaced. It just depends on your situation. If she is a really calm hen that doesn't mind you checking her nest, then maybe it would be fine. I still wouldn't risk it if it were me. Good luck! It is awesome to let them sometimes hatch their own. I can't wait to see your babies.