So... I want to delve into chicks.

[elfkin2001]

My husband and I mantain a mixed flock of approximately 60-65 chickens.

We also have 8 ducks:
Ancona Hen and Drake
Khaki Hen and Drake
Indian Runner Drake
Fawn Runner Hen
3 Rouen Hens

As of right now ducks and chickens all live housed together (quite harmoniously might I add). I sell the eggs that I get from everyone, and occasionally we will butcher a chicken for a meal.

Eventually I want to start hatching baby chicks, but for now my chickens are just a source of enjoyment to me. I have however decided that I would like to try my hand at hatching ducklings. I'd like to try a strictly brooding approach. No incubators or intervention. Just go for it with behaviors and natural instinct.

Right now everyone is housed in a huge coop (converted carport). We have two heat boxes for the colder evenings, 20 nesting boxes, three roosts, the feed/water set up, and a duck pond. We also have a brooding setup (when we buy chicks), a chick coop (before they get released into general population) and two breeding coops with nesting boxes.

I can do everything up to brooding. I will admit I have no knowledge in that area. So any tips on how to get my hens to brood? Picking the correct brooding hen? Brooding ducklings to hatch?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Davaroo]

No suggestions. Just an opinion.

Domestic ducks are notoriously unreliable as brooders. My opinion? Get an incubator.

 

[chickens4jojo]

I have never had ducks, but just wanted to say...

 

[hatchcrazzzy]

ducks and chickens brood when they get ready you can do nothing to make them go broody

 

[lorieMN]

I had runners for training herding dogs for several years,they never went broody,just kind of dropped them on the run..some might but I think they were developed for egg laying,I have read they can lay up to 300 eggs in a year,so they are kind of like duck leghorns..egg makers but not setters..tho it could have been from the dog training that they never relaxed enough to set..

 

[elfkin2001]

Quote:
No but there are egg set ups, ways to start breeding chickens and ducks. I have NEVER BRED OR TRIED TO HATCH!! I am just looking for guidance and support to start the set up. If I don't even start a scenario or give them the proper set up they won't go broody at all.

Can someone please help me out!!!!

 

[cherrychicken]

 

[elfkin2001]

Quote:
I didn't figure I'd get much out of my runner. She's a little thing, kind of stressed. I have some good Rouen hens and a Khaki. I had researched before I purchased and saw that they were pretty decent mothers.

 

[elfkin2001]

Thanks for the welcome!