The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@LoveToFarmYep, I bet she's broody and I would start counting yesterday as Day One if her brood.

@DaisyMeadow the dip tray is a very smart water idea for ducklings. Love it.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Eyebrows took her babies for their first supervised swim yesterday. Cutest dip tray ever!

So adorable

 

[LoveToFarm]

Yay im so excited only problem my one mallard hen wants to lay there also she wt should I do to keep her off the nest?

 

[joyfulkeeper]

Eyebrows took her babies for their first supervised swim yesterday. Cutest dip tray ever!

Cutest thing ever! I love that the yellow one got in the middle.

 

[ringaring]

Beautiful ducks, now question are they or someone else still laying in their nests because if so your hatch may get so staggard your going to lose some ducklings unless you can convince one of these to stay on the rest of the eggs once the first set of ducklings begin to hatch. because mama will get up and leave the nest with ducklings at some point.

I know Snowy was setting first so any hatchlings in the 1st 2-3 days will be moved with Snowy into a separate area. I am hoping the remaining eggs will hatch under the other blue in the next few days and she can keep those - in a separate area from the main room. I really hope noone is still adding to the nest at this late date. The 2 blues are glued to those nests. At last count there were still only 18 eggs (did I really say STILL ONLY! I can't imagine 18 little ducklets running around, terrorizing the adults).
Got a big concern though: just found out I may have to leave for a new job the day after hatching for 17 days. I'm giving my husband all kinds of instructions, and directing him to this thread if he has questions while I'm gone. We also have Storey's Guide... and he has raised chicks before. Hate to go but have to provide for the farm, because, God knows - farmers don't make enough to live on. I find it amazing people will spend $5 on a coffee drink but tighten up paying for locally grown, fresh produce, or balk at paying $5 for eggs that are fresh. I'll get off my soapbox now.
I love this site - so much helpful info and the photos are great. I'm sure he will find the same.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know Snowy was setting first so any hatchlings in the 1st 2-3 days will be moved with Snowy into a separate area. I am hoping the remaining eggs will hatch under the other blue in the next few days and she can keep those - in a separate area from the main room. I really hope noone is still adding to the nest at this late date. The 2 blues are glued to those nests. At last count there were still only 18 eggs (did I really say STILL ONLY! I can't imagine 18 little ducklets running around, terrorizing the adults).
Got a big concern though: just found out I may have to leave for a new job the day after hatching for 17 days. I'm giving my husband all kinds of instructions, and directing him to this thread if he has questions while I'm gone. We also have Storey's Guide... and he has raised chicks before. Hate to go but have to provide for the farm, because, God knows - farmers don't make enough to live on. I find it amazing people will spend $5 on a coffee drink but tighten up paying for locally grown, fresh produce, or balk at paying $5 for eggs that are fresh. I'll get off my soapbox now.
I love this site - so much helpful info and the photos are great. I'm sure he will find the same.

Boy do i understand what your saying I started off taking some of my hens eggs to our church and giving them away then a friend there said I should at least sell them for 2.00 a doz to help with feed, [this was about 4 ys ago] well when I mentioned that i was going to ask 2.each no one wanted to buy them so now our extras go to the food bank since most that go there need the help. So I dif understand what your saying. oh and I would never pay 5.00 for a cup of coffee lol. but love local produce. Do you CSA's in your area. I think thats what they are called. So far my dad is still doing a big garden but he says' this is his last yr. But buying local is very popular here we also have a market in town every Sat.

As for the ducks what's nice about having broody's is letting them do all the work, only thing we have to watch for is making sure everyone is safe[preds] and have plenty to eat and drink mom takes care of everything else. So hopefully your dh won't have to do much but watch and give you updates.

Make sure there isn't anything the newly hatched ducklings can fall into and not be able to get out of. there is even pic of home made waterers that work great for mom and ducklings.

 

[LoveToFarm]

Hey guys I have a question my broody hen was sitting on her eggs for 4 days now today she decided she doesnt want to lay on them anymore wt should I do I can put them in the incubator or let her have them?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

How's the air temperatures? My last broody mom spent a ton of time off her nest, right up to hatch day. (It was hot then). I might at least give her the night to go back, she might.

 

[LoveToFarm]

How's the air temperatures? My last broody mom spent a ton of time off her nest, right up to hatch day. (It was hot then). I might at least give her the night to go back, she might.

We r at 60 degrees here today I even walked her in the house by them but she didnt want anything to do with them! Then tonight when i put them away she went to another nest box to lay down so I just took them and put the in the bator! These are my last fertile eggs from my late drake so I really want them to hatch! Y dont they want to lay on them after a couple of days?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I dunno, some are just fickle and lose interest I guess.