The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Ren2014]

We have no broodies at this time I'm guessing a snake keeps getting their eggs. I did put a hardware cloth cage around one nest but had to leave an opening for the duck. My efforts to protect the eggs might have scared the duck away. Now 4 of our girls are laying their eggs right smack in the middle of the yard. I guess they figure laying them in the tall grass and weeds is luring the snakes in, lol. We'll soon be shutting them up at night again and I am hoping they will lay in their pen where eggs should be safer.

 

[Mrs.H]

Ok new to ducks, and broody ducks. My 2 Rouens (about a year old) started laying on eggs. Started out with one of them, then the other took over. So they collected eggs for little over a week, then one went full time few days ago. I lost count of eggs at this point (at least 10) 7 I was able to mark before she started sitting 24/7. So this morning I notice 3 marked eggs were far away from nest and that they BOTH are on the nest of eggs all day. So I collected and tossed those 3 eggs. Then tonight there were 5-6 eggs away from nest some marked so I go to get a bucket and go back to their house to get those (like 2-3mins later) and POOF no eggs were there. Is that normal for them to kick eggs out then take them back?? I know even with them kicking out those 5-6 eggs plus the 3 that they had plenty more. Would they know this early on if eggs no good? I just don't have a clue and they are gonna drive me nuts this next month bc I want babies yet......don't need anymore animals.....whatsoever

 

[Onlyducks]

I haven't had broody ducks until this year, but one of my Muscovies sat on eggs under a shed for over a month. She would remove one or two eggs at a time and I'd find them out in the open. One was a partially hatched egg. No ducklings ever were hatched. Now I have one that is broody that had 4 "eggs", then broke open one egg, then another. The remaining two are ceramic, so she's still sitting on those two.

My thought was these are not experienced brooders and it takes a while. I'm curious what answers people have.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok new to ducks, and broody ducks. My 2 Rouens (about a year old) started laying on eggs. Started out with one of them, then the other took over. So they collected eggs for little over a week, then one went full time few days ago. I lost count of eggs at this point (at least 10) 7 I was able to mark before she started sitting 24/7. So this morning I notice 3 marked eggs were far away from nest and that they BOTH are on the nest of eggs all day. So I collected and tossed those 3 eggs. Then tonight there were 5-6 eggs away from nest some marked so I go to get a bucket and go back to their house to get those (like 2-3mins later) and POOF no eggs were there. Is that normal for them to kick eggs out then take them back?? I know even with them kicking out those 5-6 eggs plus the 3 that they had plenty more. Would they know this early on if eggs no good? I just don't have a clue and they are gonna drive me nuts this next month bc I want babies yet......don't need anymore animals.....whatsoever

If you don't want any more animals then just take all eggs away, I have to do it here. They may not like it as mine don't but i take eggs stir up nest place new bedding over top and keep the girls out all day till time to lock up, after one week one has finally given up the other is still mopping around but it's getting better.

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Two of my little girls are broody!!

 

[sunnyfishy]

So cute! I've never had a truly broody duck yet, but my little mallard did start laying in a little spot. (I think our Ancona or Blue swede snuck an egg in there). She had a few more eggs in it, but I took them out since we were making some bread. What's weird to me is I don't even think she's mating with a drake. I've NEVER seen it, and the only interested male is constantly rebuffed by her.

 

[smonkeySK]

So cute! I've never had a truly broody duck yet, but my little mallard did start laying in a little spot. (I think our Ancona or Blue swede snuck an egg in there). She had a few more eggs in it, but I took them out since we were making some bread. What's weird to me is I don't even think she's mating with a drake. I've NEVER seen it, and the only interested male is constantly rebuffed by her.

My girl was the same - drake would follow her everywhere like a little lapdog but she wouldn't give him permission whenever he tried anything; to this day I've never seen him manage to jump her - or the 2 girls she hatched out 5 months ago......... If she's gone broody then she will be quietly letting him have his way

 

[sunnyfishy]

Guess I'll let her have a go at hatching them next spring! It'll be funny to see if she is actually laying fertile eggs.

 

[Ren2014]

Do ducks go broody this time of year?? I found a Pekin and a Blue Swed sitting on the same nest a week ago. Now the Pekin is sitting all day but off at night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do ducks go broody this time of year?? I found a Pekin and a Blue Swed sitting on the same nest a week ago. Now the Pekin is sitting all day but off at night.

Yes they do, and they usually start by sitting on them at night then gradually as they have finished building their clutch they will start to sit continuously. It can be tricky having duckling hatch this time of year if it's getting cold in you part of the country especially if mama isn't attentive to her babies once they hatch, they can chill easily.

I have 2 broody girls I am working with to break, They have no eggs since I have taken them away but I don't want them brooding this time of year, I want them trough with molt so they can face winter with a good set of water proof feathers.