Starting two clutches with broody ducks!

[Kbduckmom]

Hello All!
I’m starting two clutches with my girls. I’ve been letting them collect eggs and they’ve been taking eggs from our Khaki Campbells. I want to share my story as it goes along so people can learn from my experience. I separated our 4 females and 2 drakes into different sides of the yard. We have 1 Cayuga female (Daisy), 2 Khakis (Goldy and Curly), and a Welsh drake (Harley) on one side and the male (Quackers) and female (Twoyo) Buffs on the other.

Here’s Daisy, my Cayuga momma. I’ve planned on her brooding since I found out her breed tends to do well with mothering. It was frustrating at first because she kept picking nesting spot that were close to sprinkler heads and near where the kids played. I finally penned her in this spot for a few nights and she has taken to it and now has a clutch of 12. She’s adopted a few eggs from one of our khakis that nests near her, so we may have some Welsh khakis in the mix. I plan to pen off the khakis away from her for a bit so her clutch doesn’t get too big. Go Daisy go!

This is Twoyo (short for “Two year old” as my daughter named her as a duckling) and her drake Quackers. She’s our Buff momma. I decided last minute to let her go for it. She’s our best grub hunter, very calm and social with us, and very pretty. She has a prime nesting spot and covers her nest well every time she takes a break so I have high hopes.

 

[viennaproto]

They are beautiful!! Good luck

 

[viennaproto]

Just wondering though- are you sure that is a cayuga? Usually they are all black with a hint of green. My Cayuga females usually are like yours, but with a much darker head that reflect green. Just wondering though!

 

[Kessel23]

Looks like it could be a Swedish that has molted a few times. Some turn really white as they get older.

Just wondering though- are you sure that is a cayuga? Usually they are all black with a hint of green. My Cayuga females usually are like yours, but with a much darker head that reflect green. Just wondering though!

 

[viennaproto]

Looks like it could be a Swedish that has milted a few times. Some turn really white as they get older.

Possibly yes! Just does not look like a cayuga to me!

 

[Miss Lydia]

All blk ducks turn white over time here’s my black Runner. @shawluvsbirds has white speckled Cayugas.

 

[Kbduckmom]

Just wondering though- are you sure that is a cayuga? Usually they are all black with a hint of green. My Cayuga females usually are like yours, but with a much darker head that reflect green. Just wondering though!

I adopted her from someone when she was 2 years old. They said she was a Cayuga, and I wondered if she was a mix for a while because of how much white she has. Then I learned about them turning white over time. She definitely has the green hue, the deep quack, and a large body (hefty girl).

 

[viennaproto]

Awesome! Crazy how different some can look huh? She is beautiful.

 

[Kbduckmom]

So, I’m fairly certain we’re on day 1 or 2 of incubation with my Buff duck. Yay! She stayed on it until about 5:30 yesterday. I’m hoping she sticks it out today.
Bad news with my Cayuga. She’s been collecting eggs in one nest, but it’s the one that is closer to all the action with my kids, so I think she’s been spooked. This morning I found her guarding a new egg in a different spot (one where there’s a sprinkler head a foot away). I took the egg and coaxed her back to her nest, placing the egg nearby. She fussed with it for a minute. She hasn’t started sitting yet, so I’m hopeful the nest is still okay. I plan to see if she’ll go back to it, but I’m feeling discouraged.
I hesitate to move it (again) to a place farther from the kids play set, but I’m afraid more change will dissuade her more.
Words of wisdom?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your ducks need to be nesting inside a coop that is secure and quiet. They like privacy when brooding, take the egg and place it inside in a nice side bedding and maybe she’ll be encouraged to brood.