The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Amiga]

My Runners all have some amount of snow - white feathers. It is just how some ducks are. One of my chocolate Runners is almost completely white, and Sieben, a black Runner, has a white head with a few sprinkles of black feathers.

It started after they were a year or two old.

 

[Mrs.H]

Best I could get for a pic. Maybe it is feathers? It's so hard to tell. She's looks ratty lol

 

[Mrs.H]

I should also add that I know this question doesn't belong on this thread so sorry lol but just wanted an opinion or 2

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

My broody Saxony girl is on 8 eggs in a nest box in my bathroom... I brought her and her mate inside for bumblefoot treatment, and the warmth and the extended light got her in the laying mood. She pulled towels off of the hangers and made herself a nest, so we replaced it with a nest box. Within a week she had laid her first egg...

 

[klemele]

Hey, I have 1 Rouen Duck and she is broody. It is day 23-24 and someone told me that I might have to have worry about her leaving the nest due to impatience. Should i worry about that if she made it that far? And is it common and good if the female duck leaves the nest to go swimming in the pool, for like 30 minutes each day?

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Hey, I have 1 Rouen Duck and she is broody. It is day 23-24 and someone told me that I might have to have worry about her leaving the nest due to impatience. Should i worry about that if she made it that far? And is it common and good if the female duck leaves the nest to go swimming in the pool, for like 30 minutes each day?

It is normal for them to take a break to swim. They bring the moisture back on their feathers and use it to keep the humdity up, and the cooling period when she is off the nest is part of the normal incubation process.. When her eggs get really close to hatching, she will only do quick dips and then head straight back for the nest. If you startle her, she may go back even faster to make sure her babies are OK. I'd keep an eye on her for now when she is off the nest to make sure she isn't staying off longer than usual.

 

[klemele]

Ok, I am just worried that she will leave, and when I go to Check on the nest to make sure she is sitting on the nest and she gets off as usual... What day would you suspect her to start "lockdown"?

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Ok, I am just worried that she will leave, and when I go to Check on the nest to make sure she is sitting on the nest and she gets off as usual... What day would you suspect her to start "lockdown"?

She won't leave once she hits lockdown. She will fluff up and growl and generally look displeased, but she won't get off the nest. If your weather is cool like it has been here, she may not hatch anything at 28 days. My broody duck's last duckling hatched out a week after the due date. The eggs hatched at a rate of one or two every other day. Very different from the incubator where they all pretty much hatch at once! Once she really decides it's time to lockdown, try to make sure she is undisturbed. All that fluffing, posturing, and angry noises let out heat and humidity when she raises herself up off of the nest. She needs to feel safe and secure while she broods, which will also make her less prone to leaving early.

 

[klemele]

Ok well during school today my mom saw a crushed egg outside the nest

and I found out my male did it and it looked like he ate the body inside!! So as soon as I heard that I seperated him. When I had to remove the remains of the egg my poor momma looked really sad!! And concerned to where she tried to take the dead egg away from me!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok well during school today my mom saw a crushed egg outside the nest

and I found out my male did it and it looked like he ate the body inside!! So as soon as I heard that I seperated him. When I had to remove the remains of the egg my poor momma looked really sad!! And concerned to where she tried to take the dead egg away from me!