The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Miss Lydia]

C'mon.... I know you always wanted to take a tour through Utah.

I don't know if I can pull a trailer big enough to bring the flock along though

can you see me now on the side of the road for pit stop.

that would turn a few heads.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

 

[DaisyMeadow]

Next mama showed up this morning with 7 beautiful babies. Not too shabby for a muscovy we thought was a mule. Way to go Eyebrows! I'll have to get pics when it's not pouring down rain.

Still no more babies under Sweet Girl, and one duckling partially hatched, but died under crazy mama. There is still one more potential hatcher under her in round three of trying to get her her own duckling.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Wow-- what will you do with the ducklings?

 

[ringaring]

Got some strange activity going on: I have 11 runners, one has hatched 4 eggs and sitting on another (a donation from one of the others, who knows when). She still acts like it's viable - hissing and pecking at me when I approach, so I'll let her sit for a few more days I guess. One of the other runners decided to sit and over the course of 5 days, collected 15 eggs. Maybe it got to be too much but another runner has arranged a nest right next to her and between the two of them, there's 18 eggs. I've seen them moving eggs between nests so I have no idea which eggs came 1st. It's kind of cute - they set right against each other on their respective nests which butt up to each other. Is it common for ducks to set on eggs so close to each other? Is there a group mentality where if one duck gets tired another steps in? What happens when some start hatching while the other eggs have possibly a week more to go? I planned on moving the ducklings and Mom to a segregated area within the duckhouse when they hatched but now I am afraid a change at that point will trigger the duck still setting to abandon the unhatched eggs. This is my 1st hatching and the books I've been reading discuss incubator hatching mostly, but not much detail about Mom hatchings or this kind of closeness while setting. My inclination is to sit back and let nature take it's course but I don't want to allow the ducklings to terrorize the other adults or put the ducklings in a situation where they could be injured. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

PS: are they stealing each other's eggs or sharing responsibility? Will that behaviour extend to hatchlings?

 

[DaisyMeadow]

Here is my girl Eyebrows. We thought she was a hinnie or a mule as she looked just like our anconas when she hatched and her entire first clutch were duds, but it looks like the second time is the charm for motherhood!



This mama is from a week ago. Babies already sold (except for the 2 we're keeping).

 

[chickkrzi]

Have one of my Welsh go broody the 30th. She sitting on 10 eggs.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

I didn't collect eggs for a week with my Muscovy and she is now broody and sitting. However I'm doing the same with my KC's and neither of the 2 seem interested in sitting. I leave the eggs for a week and then if their not sitting, I gather them and put in fridge so they don't go to waste and start over. Does this mean they just have no interest of going broody? What will I get with a Male Muscovy and female KC? Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

I didn't collect eggs for a week with my Muscovy and she is now broody and sitting. However I'm doing the same with my KC's and neither of the 2 seem interested in sitting. I leave the eggs for a week and then if their not sitting, I gather them and put in fridge so they don't go to waste and start over. Does this mean they just have no interest of going broody? What will I get with a Male Muscovy and female KC? Thanks

Some ducks just don't have the broodiness in them, but having a muscovy gives you a much better chance of hatching some of theirs. a mating of a Scovy drake with a KC will produce Mules which means their off spring will be sterile. Natural birth control is how I like to look at it. And a KC drake mating with a Scovy duck will produce Hinnies pretty sure I have that right.

 

[ringaring]

Was watching the 2 Runners sitting on adjacent nests, this morning, one pulling eggs into her nest as the other one got up to stretch. Still concerned they could have issues with the hatchlings when they arrive. They are 18 months old and this is their first attempt at motherhood. In the meantime, Mother Buttless is being very protective of her babies and I see movement when I candle the last egg under her. I've no idea how far along it is but hope she can last 'til it hatches. I already have people asking for ducklings from the next hatching in 3 weeks.
We have pictures of all the ducks at www.lsshaftsfarm.com on the 'meet the family' page.