The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[fuzziecreatures]

My mallards are Easter babies, 1 of the girls have been sitting on her nest for 3 - 4 weeks now. I don't know when she actually started. It took me forever to find her hidden nest. It was warm this weekend, I was really hoping they would hatch. I candled last weekend and thought it would have happened by now. I checked for movement yesterday when she was off the nest. I saw at least 2 of the 6 eggs moving at the aircell. The aircell is nearly half the egg!
I'm hopeful they survive. I don't know if there is something I'm supposed to do.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My mallards are Easter babies, 1 of the girls have been sitting on her nest for 3 - 4 weeks now. I don't know when she actually started. It took me forever to find her hidden nest. It was warm this weekend, I was really hoping they would hatch. I candled last weekend and thought it would have happened by now. I checked for movement yesterday when she was off the nest. I saw at least 2 of the 6 eggs moving at the aircell. The aircell is nearly half the egg!
I'm hopeful they survive. I don't know if there is something I'm supposed to do.

Leave it to mom they have been doing it alot longer than us. Is she in a safe place because her and ducklings will be pred food if not? Sounds like it will be any day now.

 

[fuzziecreatures]

She is tucked away behind the straw bales. I have to sit on the ground to feel her.
The ducks free range with our 70 chickens. They sleep in the coop.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She is tucked away behind the straw bales. I have to sit on the ground to feel her.
The ducks free range with our 70 chickens. They sleep in the coop.

We'll when they all hatch you'll see them she won't keep them in the nest after hatch. so either you'll need to have a place for her and ducklings only or she'll be out among the flock and those ducklings will be vunerable to injury or death since some flock member may not tolerate babies. I'm not saying all will go after newly hatched ducklings but some may.
A member who had ducklings in with chickens lost a good bit of his ducklings to these chickens who attacked. and now says he would not put young ducklings in with chickens I wouldn't either. Maybe free range will make the difference but I free range and still keep my moms and ducklings in view of everyone but behind temp fencing with their own house till 3 weeks of age.

 

[fuzziecreatures]

The chickens are afraid of the ducks. I have a run and shelter I can use for them if I need to. I just closed it up for the winter but I don't want the babies hurt. Would she be warm enough? I would rather not use a heat lamp
I checked today, 1 baby as of 4pm.

 

[Mrs.H]

The chickens are afraid of the ducks. I have a run and shelter I can use for them if I need to. I just closed it up for the winter but I don't want the babies hurt. Would she be warm enough? I would rather not use a heat lamp
I checked today, 1 baby as of 4pm.

Congrats to your first baby! I still wouldn't trust the chickens even tho they are afraid of ducks bc the babies will be new to the chickens/territory and the mom might not be able to defend all of them. Esp if the babies start running around away from mom in fear. I don't use heat lamps. I use small boxes lined in fleece that they can go in but that's when a purchased babies in spring. So that may not be warm enough for where you live. Mom and siblings should keep each other warm of they have proper shelter

 

[Miss Lydia]

The chickens are afraid of the ducks. I have a run and shelter I can use for them if I need to. I just closed it up for the winter but I don't want the babies hurt. Would she be warm enough? I would rather not use a heat lamp
I checked today, 1 baby as of 4pm.

I forget how many eggs? but good advise from Mrs.H I don't like heat lamps either hopefully if she has a small clutch of ducklings she can keep them warm just make sure they have plenty of dry bedding to snuggle into. Pics when you can. Oh what temps are we talking about in SW Pa. ?

 

[fuzziecreatures]

5 eggs, 1 duckling still this am

 

[Miss Lydia]

5 eggs, 1 duckling still this am

Mama taking good care of duckling? only problem I see with having ducklings this time of year is them getting chilled, most mama ducks aren't as attentive as chicken mamas are and ducklings can get cold fast. So keep an eye out and make sure she's keeping this one and the rest warm. Going Quackers who loves in Canada had a mama hatch in Feb one year and she did put up a heat lamp so if an arctic blast was to come through then I might think of using heat. when we had a arctic blast come through in spring a couple years ago. I put mom and ducklings in an Xlarge dog kennel and brought them in the house in a room that stays cool and kept them in till temps moderated. Keep us updated on hatch.

 

[fuzziecreatures]

Checked on momma this evening after work, cannot find the duckling!! Do they hide them?
1 egg was a quitter, and 3 eggs died in the shell, no clue where the other one went.