Terrible Muscovy Mom...

[Bleenie]

One of last years additions, a Dark Blue Muscovy hen has been brooding her eggs for quite some time now and they've finally started hatching. WELL, since they started hatching she's been kicking them out of the nest, most of the time when they're about half way zipped!!! she is also about the meanest dang broody i have ever had, claws , bill and all anytime i come near her spot. i don't even have to mess with her and shes ready to chew me up. I'm really quite irritated with her mothering 'skills' (or lack of!!). I have NEVER had a bad Muscovy mom, Never. I am very much considering rehoming her because of this. It was her first nest but all my first time mommas have been wonderful mothers so far

out of 15 eggs she has 2 left under her. luckily i found 1 half-hatched baby, that had been 'evicted', before it got too cold and died. i brought it in and put it in the incubator and it hatched fine, cute little blue thing.

Montie was also due yesterday but no babies yet. she has a lot of eggs so i am giving her some extra time. i also may be off on the date she started brooding. hoping for lots fo fuzzy butts, and praying for Silvers!!

!

 

[duckyfromoz]

Some first time mothers are great sitters...but dont do well when the ducklings actually start to hatch.
So sorry she didnt do well for you. Maybe give her a second chance- second time round she may be better. Or just take the eggs just before they are due to hatch since you have the incubator anyway.

 

[sourland]

It may be first time jitters, or she may just be a genetically programmed "bad mother." Unless you really want her because of color or type, I would be tempted to rehome her. There is a strong possibility that her daughters might also be poor mothers. Like most frequently begets like.

 

[allanimals21]

I just had one of my muscovy hens who is supposedly a great mother hatch out some chicks along with her own eggs. She ended up crushing 4 little chicks. I managed to save 2. One was hatched out already and the other was just zipped so I took it to the incubator. Anyhoo I'm hoping she does better with her ducklings.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

I just had one of my muscovy hens who is supposedly a great mother hatch out some chicks along with her own eggs. She ended up crushing 4 little chicks. I managed to save 2. One was hatched out already and the other was just zipped so I took it to the incubator. Anyhoo I'm hoping she does better with her ducklings.

Some Scovy moms don't like chicks. I didn't know one EE was in with Charlottes clutch and it hatched on time. Charlotte kicked it out

& and I found it too late but Charlotte does fine with her own ducklings. If fact, she is a SUPER Scovy mom. There is a very GOOD chance your hen will be a really good Scovy mom. Chick's hatch early compared to ducklings so some of these moms may interpret that as "something wrong". Maybe they sense it's better to lose one or two (chicks) than the greater part of the clutch.

Sorry to hear your Scovy hen is being a "bad mom", Bleenie. She sounds as if she's super stressed about her clutch & is overreacting. If you really don't like her much personality wise, I'd say rehome her.​