The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[JadeComputerGal]

One of our Buffs did the same thing in the summer. She was obviously broody but wouldn't stay on the nest even though it looked to us like the space was fine, but we removed a divider kind of on a whim. The doubled nesting space apparently met with her approval because after she went in to lay her very next egg, she didn't want to get back up. There were many days over that following 4 weeks that we had to force her out of the coop to take a bath and eat.

 

[Ren2014]

Hmmmm you could take it down of its not needed for anything else right now. I would leave all the eggs in there until she decides to kick some out that aren't good on her own, Or you could candle them. How far along is she? That's just my 2 cents. I've only had a broody duck just one time. Let's see what Miss Lydia thinks

This will be my first 24/7 brooder. I think it's the same girl that was sitting on the side of the house but she hadn't committed full time to that nest when I moved it. She started over in the nest box when I moved those eggs to the night pen. I tried candling and I'm no good at it, lol. I can tell fertile from non fertile but that's about it. I guess when I have a real live one I will be able to tell.

I'd dif take down the divider then she can move the eggs around to her liking, if there are too many and you don't want her to hatch a load then candle and discard any that haven't started to develop. but at least she'll have room to move around and arrange her nest the way she wants too plus she'll not leave one set to get cold. How many eggs is she on? Take into consideration at this time of year it may be better for her to have a small clutch so she can keep them warm.

I will take down the divider. When she first started sitting, we culled the eggs down to 11 in one nest and 10 in the other. I think the other girls are laying in one of them also. Because she is sitting 24/7 now, it's been hard for me to get a count. She doesn't stay off them very long at all and she is VERY grumpy when she is. I'm so worried about her abandoning again that I don't push my luck. Should I remove all eggs that aren't fertile? Does an egg show if it's fertile or not on day one? One set is definitely cold.

One of our Buffs did the same thing in the summer. She was obviously broody but wouldn't stay on the nest even though it looked to us like the space was fine, but we removed a divider kind of on a whim. The doubled nesting space apparently met with her approval because after she went in to lay her very next egg, she didn't want to get back up. There were many days over that following 4 weeks that we had to force her out of the coop to take a bath and eat.

This is great to know. I'm so afraid of her abandoning her eggs again I don't dare try to force her out. Maybe when I become more experienced

at this stuff, lol. IF I don't die from worrying over this one, lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This will be my first 24/7 brooder. I think it's the same girl that was sitting on the side of the house but she hadn't committed full time to that nest when I moved it. She started over in the nest box when I moved those eggs to the night pen. I tried candling and I'm no good at it, lol. I can tell fertile from non fertile but that's about it. I guess when I have a real live one I will be able to tell.

I will take down the divider. When she first started sitting, we culled the eggs down to 11 in one nest and 10 in the other. I think the other girls are laying in one of them also. Because she is sitting 24/7 now, it's been hard for me to get a count. She doesn't stay off them very long at all and she is VERY grumpy when she is. I'm so worried about her abandoning again that I don't push my luck. Should I remove all eggs that aren't fertile? Does an egg show if it's fertile or not on day one? One set is definitely cold.


This is great to know. I'm so afraid of her abandoning her eggs again I don't dare try to force her out. Maybe when I become more experienced

at this stuff, lol. IF I don't die from worrying over this one, lol.

If you don't notice her coming out to eat poop and bathe I hope you would take her out, sometimes they get so carried away they don't take care of themselves properly. Only way to tell if an egg is fertile on day one is to break open and look for the bullseye, by day 7 you should begin to see development. I'd give her up to 8 eggs only if first time broody and since she abandoned already I'd still call her first time. This is just the way I do it I usually only give first timers 4 eggs. Then if the mama doesn't care for them I can do it without being over whelmed. I don't have the space for a large brooder.

 

[Ren2014]

If you don't notice her coming out to eat poop and bathe I hope you would take her out, sometimes they get so carried away they don't take care of themselves properly. Only way to tell if an egg is fertile on day one is to break open and look for the bullseye, by day 7 you should begin to see development. I'd give her up to 8 eggs only if first time broody and since she abandoned already I'd still call her first time. This is just the way I do it I usually only give first timers 4 eggs. Then if the mama doesn't care for them I can do it without being over whelmed. I don't have the space for a large brooder.

She does come out to eat and poop when I put them up at night. The duck pond isn't far from the pen so I haven't put a swimming pool in the pen. Maybe I should because I don't know if she is going to the pond during the day or not to bathe. 8 it will be because I don't want to be overwhelmed period

 

[Miss Lydia]

She does come out to eat and poop when I put them up at night. The duck pond isn't far from the pen so I haven't put a swimming pool in the pen. Maybe I should because I don't know if she is going to the pond during the day or not to bathe. 8 it will be because I don't want to be overwhelmed period

Even a cement mixing tub would be nice for her because this is how they keep humidity where it's suppose to be while brooding . I'm glad to hear she is coming out,I've never had any problems since I always made mine come out when I went in and cleaned but I have seen many post here about their ducks not coming out and I have to encourage them to get them outside brooding is hard on them. Keep us updated.

 

[Ren2014]

She went to the pond today and fussed the whole time, lol. I removed the divider and got rid of the cold egg side. I candled but didn't really see anything but fertile and non fertile. I left a bunch of eggs tho cause I'm afraid of my candling skill. I will remove down to 8 this weekend.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She went to the pond today and fussed the whole time, lol. I removed the divider and got rid of the cold egg side. I candled but didn't really see anything but fertile and non fertile. I left a bunch of eggs tho cause I'm afraid of my candling skill. I will remove down to 8 this weekend.

Glad she enjoyed herself, they really do like to make a scene when broody lol A good led flash light and a dark room works the best. How can you see fertile and non fertile when candling. Only way I never knew to tell if you had a fertile egg was to wait till around day 7 and candle then you see veins beginning to develop. you know you have a fertile egg, only other way is to crack open the egg and look for the bullseye.

 

[Ren2014]

I look for the bullseye as shown in this chart:
http://wildliferehabber.com/candling-eggs

 

[Mrs.H]

She has a pretty green tint to her now

And about bigger than momma lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

She has a pretty green tint to her now


And about bigger than momma lol

I'm thinking she maybe a he, maybe?? lol very pretty all of them