The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Wolflady2223]

So, I have 2 Indian Runner's who are sitting on nests of eggs totally 16. All have been candled and I believe all are fertile/viable. When they went broody there were only four. Those four are due to hatch this weekend....but the others I am unsure of. Will they continue to sit on them once the first few start hatching? I plan to take the ducklings as they hatch because I've heard they aren't good mothers. This is my first ever hatching so can someone tell me a little bit about what I should be doing and when? I know that they "pip" and the exiting the egg process takes a while. The females leave the nest for about 10 minutes a day....so will I be able to know when the first few are pipping? Should I take the eggs then or wait til they are fully out? .................................................... Sorry just a nervous farm-mama here!

 

[lbrykowski2011]

If you are having heat then she is probably letting the eggs cool down some, how is everything now? and the blood not sure about that did she only do it once? and how much was it?

No heat here yet. Drizzley, cloudy and around 60. I watched her just sort of poop it out. Sry for the terminology, just no other way to say it, lol. It was bright red and she squirted it 3 times. Then about 20 mins later she did it again. She was acting totally normal other than that. She bathed for awhile and walked around with Thunder(the male) for a bit and went back into the pen and into her house. She's been back in there ever since. Sure hope she is gonna be ok, glad she was at least acting normal.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Are you sure it was blood and not a freaky nasty broody poop? I hope she's back on her nest now.

I'm not sure what broody poo is, as this is my 1st experience, but it was bright red. Thanks for all your guys help, I'll be glad when the ducklings hatch and she returns to her normal self. Just seems so hard on them and kinda us.

 

[ringaring]

It's Started! The 1st of 18 eggs hatched this evening. I just hope I don't go out in the morning to 18 little ducklets & 2 bickering Moms. Tried separating the mothers to be yesterday from the rest of the flock with a 18" fence around their nests, mainly to keep the ducklings in and away from the pond. Well, the mothers hopped the fence and terrorized the rest of the flock, even getting into a brawl with each other - 1st time I've ever seen an actual fight between ducks; I had to separate them twice. I put the fence back up to protect the new ducklings from the other adults before shutting up the duckhouse this evening and I plan to be up at dawn. Right now the Moms are peacefully sitting on their respective nests although I did see a little egg stealing still going on. Once enough hatch I am going to move them both into separate rooms til the ducklings are at least 3 weeks old. I think Mother Buttless and ducklings are old enough to be in the main house so their quarters will become a growing area for the newcomers. I've been supervising them in the yard with the other ducks for 3 days now & they outrun the adults, get in and out of the pond easily, stay with Mother Buttless and seem to be accepted by the rest of the flock pretty well. I was providing softened all purpose pellets for the ducklings (19% protein) after they were 2 weeks old but they are now ignoring it and eating the adult's dry food. So much for Runners not being very broody. As for mothering skills; Buttless has not impressed me but her ducklings seem to have pretty strong survival skills.

How fast they've grown - 3 weeks old.

 

[holm25]

how do i convince our duck to go broody she is a cayuga

 

[one old chick]

hello all. I need some help. I have a few questions regarding my ducks. I have two ducks 1 drake. my drake usually mates with only one of the ducks. since day one the two of them have been paired. however, both ducks lay eggs in the same nest everyday to which I usually take them out. One duck, the one that mates with the drake always lays a white egg. the other duck which I have never seen mate lays a kind of blue egg (I assumed they are blue because they are not fertile?) for the past couple of days I have taken the blue eggs out of the nest and left the white eggs. My duck is now sitting for periods at a time. The other duck is still laying eggs in the nest that I take out when the sitting duck (no pun intended) takes a break. yesterday was the first day she sat most of the day. At one point I noticed she was off the nest I went to take the blue egg, but the other duck was sitting on the eggs. it was later in the day so she wasn't laying, she is not broody, it almost appeared she was sitting there to let the other duck come out to drink, eat and take a bath, is this something that ducks do? do they help each other hatch out eggs? these three have been together since birth. they are a year old and very close. there are 4 white eggs in the nest. I am still removing the blue eggs. when do I start counting days? she still comes out once in a while to drink and bathe as I said yesterday the nest was occupied most of the day. she appears hot and cranky when she does come out until she gets refreshed then she goes back in. Should I keep the other duck away or should I let them work it out?? The duck sitting is the alpha and the other duck seems to accept this without conflict. They all get along really well and never fight. I know there are a lot of questions here but this is my first time with sitting ducks. I want them to be a natural as possible and I intend to let them raise any ducklings that come themselves. Any input would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[holm25]

what breed are they

 

[Miss Lydia]

how do i convince our duck to go broody she is a cayuga

All you can do is give her a nice comfy private place [secure too] and put lots of shavings or what ever you use for bedding in the area and hope for the best. They have to make the hormones that start the broody process, leaving the eggs in there once she starts laying will help too.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

So another question as I'm out making sure everything is set and safe for the weekend. I put a metal waterer out cuz it only releases so much at a time anyways, thought that would be safe for babies, but now wondering if mom can get her beak in it enopugh for her to drink. I used to use it for the chickens but never tried it for ducks.
2nd-The dog house she is in is a small wooden one. I don't see how they will all fit in there once their born. I have a big igloo dog house and wondering if after their born and come out, should I switch them?
I have an FFA show tomorrow all day and her hatch date is Saturday, so today is like my last day to get everything set i think. lol Soooo nervous

 

[Miss Lydia]

So another question as I'm out making sure everything is set and safe for the weekend. I put a metal waterer out cuz it only releases so much at a time anyways, thought that would be safe for babies, but now wondering if mom can get her beak in it enopugh for her to drink. I used to use it for the chickens but never tried it for ducks.
2nd-The dog house she is in is a small wooden one. I don't see how they will all fit in there once their born. I have a big igloo dog house and wondering if after their born and come out, should I switch them?
I have an FFA show tomorrow all day and her hatch date is Saturday, so today is like my last day to get everything set i think. lol Soooo nervous

Do you usually give mom a bucket for drinking out of? the ducklings won't be able to get into it as long as there is nothing for them to climb onto for access. Or make one of those easy waterers with the lid cut open for mom and place it up on bricks, she needs to be able to dunk her head. I'd move them once mom brings them outside, so theres plenty of room and that way you can give all new bedding which will most likely need to be replaced anyway. just make sure babies can get in and out without problems. at least the FFA show will help keep your mind off of things. keep us updated, and of course you know there are always one or 2 that has to come early so be on the look out for that.