Should I give my broody chicken fertile duck eggs?

[chickens really]

I had a Bantam Hen that could cover 6 standard chicks as they grew. It was hilarious to see her off her feet covering 5 week old Orpington/Brahma Chicks...

 

[Kiki]

Yes, do it! My broody chickens make good duck mothers. Anyone know what that thread is that has the picture of the silkie in the kiddie pool with her ducklings?

Here is it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-with-chicken-momma.25170/

 

[casportpony]

Here is another cute one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...st-broodies-and-babies.1308292/#post-21323279

 

[casportpony]

Sorry, was on the tablet and wasn't able to answer some of your questions.

Pros?

• Most chickens are great broodies and mothers.
• The eggs usually stay cleaner.

Cons?

• Since duck eggs go ~28 days, some chicken broodies start to lose interest after 21 days of sitting. Not many will lose interest, but I have seen it happen a few times.

How many eggs do I give her?

How big is she? I give my bantam Cochin sized hens 4 peafowl eggs and peafowl eggs are substantially larger than duck eggs.

How many quitters are typical?

I haven't noticed more quitting than when the ducks incubate them.

I’d hate to have her sit a month and have nothing to show for it, but I really am not trying to grow my flock much larger, so I want to give her as few as possible to ensure success.

If mine, I would give at least four.

If I have a bunch of eggs to choose from is there anything you look for that makes an eggs good vs. bad before you set it?

Candle the eggs first to check for cracks, shell abnormalities, and check the size of the air cells

• Set the freshest eggs
  
• People say not to set eggs that are abnormally large or small
• Set clean eggs
• I would not set oddly shaped eggs (ie too pointy or too round)

I do not own an incubator and will not purchase one. If she fails the eggs fail.

That is the only risk I see, her quitting.

If a duckling is raised by a broody chicken how long do you think it could live with the chickens before they might reject it and it needs to integrated with the duck flock?

I think it depends on the hen.

I have never hatched anything nor has this broody. She is about 2.5 years old (not sure if that matters).

Not sure it matters either.

Hope that helps!

 

[PirateGirl]

Sorry, was on the tablet and wasn't able to answer some of your questions.

• Most chickens are great broodies and mothers.
• The eggs usually stay cleaner.

• Since duck eggs go ~28 days, some chicken broodies start to lose interest after 21 days of sitting. Not many will lose interest, but I have seen it happen a few times.

How big is she? I give my bantam Cochin sized hens 4 peafowl eggs and peafowl eggs are substantially larger than duck eggs.


I haven't noticed more quitting than when the ducks incubate them.


If mine, I would give at least four.

Candle the eggs first to check for cracks, shell abnormalities, and check the size of the air cells

• Set the freshest eggs
  
• People say not to set eggs that are abnormally large or small
• Set clean eggs
• I would not set oddly shaped eggs (ie too pointy or too round)

That is the only risk I see, her quitting.


I think it depends on the hen.


Not sure it matters either.

Hope that helps!

Thanks! I try and keep my eggs rotated so we eat the oldest ones first, so I do know which are freshest. The duck eggs often get mucky (I even had 2 in the pool this week), so I’m guessing you don’t wash them but pick the cleaner ones you end up with. Candling is a good idea. My broody is a very large Delaware, so I don’t think she will h e trouble covering them.

What am I looking for with the air cells prior to setting?

 

[casportpony]

The duck eggs often get mucky (I even had 2 in the pool this week), so I’m guessing you don’t wash them but pick the cleaner ones you end up with.

No, I don't usually wash them.

My broody is a very large Delaware, so I don’t think she will h e trouble covering them.

I am so jealous, I would love to have a a big broody!

What am I looking for with the air cells prior to setting?

I look for the cells to be small, attached, not jiggly, and at the correct end of the egg. Don't laugh, but every now and then I get one that has the cell at the pointy end, and once I had one with it on the side!

 

[PirateGirl]

@casportpony a big broody is ok, but she NEVER lays eggs. Seriously, broody 3-4 times in summer, then molting, then winter break!

I'm going to try and candle a pick a few good eggs tonight. They are a bit mixed up in a basket right now and I fear that some of them might not be so good because I found them hiding after a cold (below freezing cold) night and I'm not sure which ones are the ones that might have partially frozen, but I guess it should be obvious after a week under the broody if they are any good. I'm antsy because I don't want to wait any longer! She's already been sitting and stealing eggs for a week. I just found more eggs (not fertile) that the broody stole from the other girls last night too. Now I just gotta double check the calendar and make sure estimated hatch day is not while I'm out of town, though my roommate would be ok with them, he's got more experience with this sort of thing than I do.

 

[casportpony]

I am excited for you!

 

[PirateGirl]

I gave her eggs tonight!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/pirate-ducklings-hatching-in-28-days.1311333/

 

[PirateGirl]

Oh no, something came up, now I’m wondering if I have to abandon this hatch. A friend with a family emergency wants to know if I can take 10 chickens!!! I don’t think I can permanently, but could set something temporary until we find a better solution. Things are about to get interesting.