Seriously - I have a drake incubating eggs!?

[L0rraine]

I have a bantam duck pair (of questionable breeding). The neighbor thought they were Call ducks when she asked me to 'rescue' some of her ducklings who had lost there momma duck. However, they look more like East Indie mixes to to me (the female seems to have some 'wild type' coloring with a stripe over one eye and a little grey cheek). The little female has desperately been trying to go broody on whatever eggs she can find (not a difficult task, since the pair is housed with several of my Runner ducks who lay like crazy). The drake seemed at a wee bit of a loss on the days she would hole up in the duck house 'trying' to be broody -- though he didn't seem to mind that much (being the only drake in with four lovely female Runners). One afternoon I went out and he was nowhere to be found and I assumed he was hanging near his bantam female inside the house somewhere. I opened the door and looked in and the female was all by herself on one of the nests. I started to get a little bit worried and then heard some rustling and he emerged from behind the feed bin. The next night when I went to do 'lock up' he was nowhere to be found again and so I peeked behind the feed bin and out he shuffled. At the same time, I noticed that there was a lovely little nest back there with five or six eggs in it. The last few days, anytime I make a visit to the pen he is holed up on that little nest.

Is this normal behavior?! He really is a drake. He's got the tell-tale curly tail. And I've seen him 'in action' on several occasions. Are there any types/breeds of ducks where the drake helps incubate the eggs? I'm going to let this go for a few days and try to see how serious this behavior really is. Quite frankly I'm finding it extremely interesting at this point, but maybe it's not that unusual?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have read about some drake- ganders and roosters assisting with sitting duties - but your fellow sounds like he has a nest all his own.... Can you sneak a photo of him on his nest?? I would love to see that. It really is very interesting- I wonder how he would go raising them if he continues to sit long enough.

 

[THunter]

Is he from New York?

 

[FiascoFarmer]

Quote:
THunter I think that would make him from San Francisco!!

Hahahahahaha!!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I have a pet quality call drake who would share nesting duty with his favorite bonded hen. But he never nested on his own, like your sounds to be.


Since she has passed, he nest sits for no other hen

Your boy must think what is good for the hen is good for the drake.

 

[L0rraine]

Someone asked and here are pictures

The Runners had been sneaking in eggs and there were a ton of eggs in the nest yesterday so I took most of them away. I thought he had given up, but when all the other ducks came out to eat and drink this morning he wouldn't leave the nest (until I chased him off). I wasn't planning on seeing this 'experiment' through, but maybe I'll have to see how far he'll take this. My little female is at the opposite end of the house sitting on her own eggs. His all belong to the Runner girls and, though he's tried like mad, I'm not sure he's big enough to have ever successfully mated with them. (Guess I'll candle the eggs in 10-14 days to see what the prognosis is.)

(Guess I also better mark the three keepers.)

 

[StevenW.]

I would like a video!

This is very neat...

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

Quote:
i have 3 muscovy drakes and 1 hen. the hen laid 5 egga but isn't brooding. i went out today and noticed one of the drakes on the nest lol. maybe this is more common than it seems

 

[duckyfromoz]

How very cute he looks sitting there. Please keep us updated on how things go- Let us know how the candling goes too.

 

[chickschool]

That is the cutest thing I've ever heard of or seen. I say you let him give it a go. What's the worst thing that could happen? Is it unusual? Yes, but you're talking to a person who has a leash trained rooster.