The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Ren2014]

When she sit 24 hrs that's day 1. Exciting for you and her but is she safe brooding outside? she looks like a sitting duck to me for preds.

I can't say that she is 100% safe. They free range and our Great Pyrenees keep predators away... except for snakes. It's right next to the house where we come and go all of the time. I never should have let her start sitting. She didn't really build a nest. She created a bowl in the mulch and then one day I just noticed eggs. She isn't sitting 24 hrs yet so is it ok to disrupt the whole thing and pull all of the eggs?

 

[Amiga]

Her life is at serious risk. I would move the nest or build a secure shelter around it.

 

[Ren2014]

Her life is at serious risk. I would move the nest or build a secure shelter around it.

How do I move the nest and not cause her to abandon it?

 

[Amiga]

I have read of moving it with a snow shovel and showing her the nest, sometimes it works sometimes not. But she's not going to be much good as a broody if she's done in by a predator. I would rather risk the broodiness than the duck. And there are incubators.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't say that she is 100% safe. They free range and our Great Pyrenees keep predators away... except for snakes. It's right next to the house where we come and go all of the time. I never should have let her start sitting. She didn't really build a nest. She created a bowl in the mulch and then one day I just noticed eggs. She isn't sitting 24 hrs yet so is it ok to disrupt the whole thing and pull all of the eggs?

She won't be happy with you moving her eggs but I'd do it anyway. place something over this nest to keep her off of it after you stir up the mulch or she'll go right back to it. They can be pretty stubborn about their nest sites. But she can lay more eggs and try again if she abandons these.

 

[Mrs.H]

I feed FR from hatch till old age so you did good.    Yippie for 1 so far..

Will my girls need oyster shells if they are on FR? Not even sure you can give that to ducks lol but I know you do with chickens if needed

 

[Miss Lydia]

Will my girls need oyster shells if they are on FR? Not even sure you can give that to ducks lol but I know you do with chickens if needed

I always put out oyster shell even though I use FR. I do see some of my ducks and chickens eating on it. Just better to offer it to them. any signs of more ducklings?

 

[Mrs.H]

I always put out oyster shell even though I use FR. I do see some of my ducks and chickens eating on it. Just better to offer it to them. any signs of more ducklings?

Ok thanks! I do have some on hand. Both ducks were out of the house this morning so I checked the last 2 eggs, one had some cracking that wasn't there yesterday. I could not feel or hear any movement tho, she got off the nest again and was fully bathing herself in the pool etc she's been off for longer than usual so not sure what her plans are

 

[Mrs.H]

Ok thanks! I do have some on hand. Both ducks were out of the house this morning so I checked the last 2 eggs, one had some cracking that wasn't there yesterday. I could not feel or hear any movement tho, she got off the nest again and was fully bathing herself in the pool etc she's been off for longer than usual so not sure what her plans are

Ok I checked the egg again and could feel some movement and could hear tapping but momma is just not going back???? She just keeps taking baths lol. Now what??? Thanks for all your help btw!!!

 

[Mrs.H]

Oops quoted myself lol