The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[BC-NZ]

Here's a photo of our broody Muscovy, she's on 6 Muscovy x KC eggs at the moment and we're going to put 12 more pure KC eggs under her once she's been on the x's for a week so they all hatch out at the same time - 25th April - will be our fist hatch so will be interesting to see what comes out!

 

[CrazyChookLady5]

wow! all of those feathers, did she collect them herself, or did you get them for her??

 

[BC-NZ]

Quote: It's mostly wood shavings but some of our ducks have been moulting so there were a lot of feathers in the duck house that she has gathered up herself

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's mostly wood shavings but some of our ducks have been moulting so there were a lot of feathers in the duck house that she has gathered up herself

She did a good job.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Ok, my muscovy was in the Campbell's doghouse and made a pretty nest. She was there 2 days and then left. I took the eggs and the next morning she was back sitting in there, until noon and came out again. Is she getting ready to maybe be a broody? I also collect eggs everyday, so not sure if I should leave them now. If she does them naturally, I would love some baby ducks. Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, my muscovy was in the Campbell's doghouse and made a pretty nest. She was there 2 days and then left. I took the eggs and the next morning she was back sitting in there, until noon and came out again. Is she getting ready to maybe be a broody? I also collect eggs everyday, so not sure if I should leave them now. If she does them naturally, I would love some baby ducks. Thanks

The only way you'll know if she is going broody is to leave the eggs, as long as you keep taking them she'll keep on laying. They have to build a clutch to their liking before they commit 24/7 sounds like she is getting prepared.

 

[DaisyMeadow]

The only way you'll know if she is going broody is to leave the eggs, as long as you keep taking them she'll keep on laying. They have to build a clutch to their liking before they commit 24/7 sounds like she is getting prepared.

x 2

 

[lbrykowski2011]

So by build a clutch, do mean keep laying eggs in there? If they lay 1 a day, wouldn't they hatch at all different times? Also, I'm in Mi and it's still cold, if she does get off them periodically, would that hurt them? Thanks for the help

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

So by build a clutch, do mean keep laying eggs in there? If they lay 1 a day, wouldn't they hatch at all different times? Also, I'm in Mi and it's still cold, if she does get off them periodically, would that hurt them? Thanks for the help

Hi lbrykowski!! The eggs will be all right, as long as they don't freeze and crack. Altho I have had low hatch rates from eggs that were chilled, but by that I mean below freezing daytime & night temps. Clint had the best explanation of how a clutch of eggs develops in synchronization, but I don't have a link, sorry. So i will try to summarize: It is as if the fertile eggs just wait for her to decide she's got the magic number. When she starts to sit full time, she might lay an egg or 2 afterward, but after that is when they all start to develop together at the same rate. Then, as hatching begins, the ducklings actually stimulate each other to hatch. It's really pretty cool. HTH

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Now it's been a week of watching her, i think she just started laying eggs and that's about it for now. She is in there all morning, every morning, but back out in early afternoon and I'm getting 3 eggs instead of 2. So I'm still excited she's laying eggs, but I did buy her for hatching out meat birds, so I don't want to miss when I need to quit getting the eggs. Thanks for the help Holly