Questions about my broody hen and what to do when the babies arrive...

[aduckstolemyheart]

Isolde has been sitting on a nest of 12 eggs for roughly a week now. She's a very serious broody hen and RARELY leaves her nest for anything. I refilled the pools today, and she didn't even come out to swim! I will be sneaking in to candle some of the eggs at the end of the week to ensure they're good and fertile.

So, here are my questions:

1. any special care I should be giving her while she's broody?

2. I assume she'll handle turning the eggs and etc. right?

3. When should I separate her from the rest of the flock? Right now her nest is in the corner of their regular night pen.
b. what kind of special housing should I provide for her and the ducklings? Their own yard and pen, or?

4. We would like a chance to bond with the ducklings as well, so should I take them when they hatch and bring them in, or leave them with her? I don't want her to go through all that work for nothing but we want ducklings that are socialized as well.

Also, if you have any other tips or anything to share about your own experience letting mama raise the babies please feel free, I am sooooo new at this part of duck rearing!


Thanks so much!!!

 

[Hattiegun]

I would also like to know all the above.. One of my female calls was acting alittle broody when I left a couple three eggs in her nest... I dont think im ready for all that yet tho lol

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Good to know I am not the only one wondering! : P

I know several people on this forum have let their ducks raise clutches before, so I'm hoping they'll have some good tips for us!

 

[Paintedhorsegirl]

I am going through the same thing and wondering the same questions..My mallard went broody, at first I kept removing the eggs but she was insistant upon having a nest..So I left her alone and watched for a few days, she never left her nest but I noticed everyday there were more eggs in her nest. At first i though she was laying them, and I noticed two green eggs in her nest and the rest were white. i thought oh no shes on 2 chickens eggs as well ( i have ameraucanas, so i get greenish/bluish eggs ). I looked it up online realized the green ones are hers, shes a mallard ( my only mallard ) I didnt realize mallard eggs are greenish. Which means she was on 2 of her own eggs and 8 of another duck. Her nest was inthe corner of the big pen, so i took chicken wire, left her nest where it was and seperated her..Sense when no more eggs have shown up..thank goodness.. But she has been on her nest 19 days now, and Im worried because her first couple are due to hatch on the same day but the due dates for the rest are all on different days. I dont even know who's eggs she is on..Ive tried to get a closer look but she hisses at me if I go near her. She dont want no one near her nest. She probably going to hatch mallard muts, pekins and rouins all mixed together..Im wondering will she continue to hatch all the eggs or will she stop sitting once the first few hatch...?
Should I remove the new ducklings or let her take care of them? How soon do I let her back into the flock? My ducks free range usually during the day with my chickens...do I let my mallard take the duckings out or do I keep all of them in the pen with the heating lamp...? Ive never had a broody bird and so I too have lots of questions and wish someone with the experience could help.....

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Paintedhorsegirl, I hope we all get some good advice here! Sounds like we need it! Surely someone will stop by and offer some insight soon.

 

[missy5]

Hi everyone. I've been sitting back waiting to see if anyone answers your questions because i have the same questions. Is no one out there with an answer?? Please help anyone. Come on duck people we need your wisdom!!!

 

[Silkie Sue]

I'm gonna add to the list because i have a Muscovy sitting on 6 eggs that are due any minute and all your questions apply to me as well....

 

[Silkie Sue]

Well, while we are waiting.....
here is what i was going to do ....
my hen is in a pile of straw in the hallway of my barn between the horse stalls and the chicken pens.
i have put straw bales around her nest 2 high so she can still get in and out, probably tonite i will put food and water in that area just in case..

i should say i have 2 other hens and a drake that free range all day and they get in and out of the barn through the horses stalls.
My SIL has had ducklings hatch and not had very good luck with them living very long. She found a couple at the other end of the barn dead.
i think baby ducks run around and forget how to get back to momma JMO
i think it is best to enclose them for a couple weeks til they figure out who momma is and what is what.
after they all hatch i will probably put them in a chicken pen so i can go in and play with them and get them used to being handled.
sound good???

 

[missy5]

It sounds great to me but i have absolutly no experiance. I'm still waiting for a pro to chime in. I realy don't want to go with trial and error cause those precious cuties aren't easily forgotten if something bad happens to them. I'm worried about them and they aren't even here yet. So lets hope someone helps us soon. My family says live and learn, but thats the point I want them all to live.

 

[JenniferK]

I'm another one who would love to hear some answers to the original post. We were about to incubate eggs from our BEI, when she finally decided to sit on them, at least some of the time. If she actually does hatch some, I want to know if we have any hope of bonding with the ducklings without actually stealing them away, and if we do, will she miss them?