The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Our first baby hatched!!!

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Question-
Our first little baby hatched last night. Mama is still sitting on 14 or so, more eggs. When do you think they will hatch? Also, should I care for the baby so mama can rest? Thanks!!

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

How sweet! I always read mallards lay green eggs, but my 4 girls all lay blue and white. Best of luck!

 

[Lacrystol]

Awee how sweet!!

 

[sunnyfishy]

So my mallard and her girlfriend Wednesday (a blue swede) seem to be sharing a nest. I caught Wednesday sitting on it twice this weekend, but I still can't really believe they're mating. Also they don't sit on the nest most of the day that I've seen, so there's gotta be no way those eggs would make it without being incubated by us--it's already only in the 60s during the day, and it's only going to get colder. Will they brood like this on eggs that aren't even fertile?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Question-
Our first little baby hatched last night. Mama is still sitting on 14 or so, more eggs. When do you think they will hatch? Also, should I care for the baby so mama can rest? Thanks!!

Mom will take care of it all. They should hatch over 3-4 days but maybe sooner Place food and water close by so she can show the duckling where it is and not have to leave the nest. after about 3 days she may get up and take those that have hatched out then you can go in and remove any unhatched eggs and tidy up the nest for her and babies.
Congrats so precious

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Hi Ms. Lydia! I Really appreciate your reply! I'll keep you posted as the days go by...hopefully the others will hatch soon. So will mama duck leave the unmatched eggs behind for good? Should I place them under my other broody hen just incase? Thanks again! You're the best

 

[Ren2014]

CONGRATULATIONS. I'm hoping we have some in a few weeks.

 

[Ren2014]

I sure hope we have some hatch. We are in Texas so the winter shouldn't be too bad. I will know next year though to pick up the eggs this late in the year.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi Ms. Lydia! I Really appreciate your reply! I'll keep you posted as the days go by...hopefully the others will hatch soon. So will mama duck leave the unmatched eggs behind for good? Should I place them under my other broody hen just incase? Thanks again! You're the best

eventually mama will have to leave any that don't hatch to care for the ones that have. when she gets off the nest and takes her ducklings outside then you can go in and take the remaining eggs and candle them if any are viable then put them under your broody hen. They are usually ready to take the babies out and about by day 3. after hatching. Once one of my Muscovy's sat for 4 days from the time 1st one hatched , most of the time they hatch pretty close together though.unless other ducks laid in her nest after she began sitting then you'll get a staggered hatch. I just put the food and water close by and she showed the ducklings where it was then she settled back down on the nest out of 8 eggs only 4 hatched.