The Duck Thread

[Kathy farms]

Can anyone offer me some advice on my broody duck hatching her own eggs? We candled them at 7 days and it was obvious they are developing well! This is my first female duck so I have never dealt with this before. My drake has been very patient and protective of her while she sits on her nest but I am assuming once the babies hatch I should keep mama and babies separate from him, right? If anyone can offer advice or point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

I have been searching but can only find info on hatching incubated eggs. Thanks!

You're on course. Just keep them separated for about five to six weeks, then you start the integration process.

 

[corri]

You're on course. Just keep them separated for about five to six weeks, then you start the integration process.

Thank you, Kathy. We actually got 2 female Welsh Harlequin ducklings this spring so we have been working on integration with them.....which has been a slow process since it's mating season and now we have this broody duck!

I just wasn't sure if there was anything else I would need to do....because obviously I am not anxious or paranoid at all! Lol I wasn't planning on more ducks this year but we are SO excited to experience this! Mom is a khaki campbell and dad is a Pekin so I can't wait to see what their offspring look like!

 

[jtn42248]

I really am not at all expert on broody ducks but I have seen hatching/brooding pens for them. The ones I have seen are elevated with a small nest sized house/coop, wire floors, a small area to move about with food and water and a small sort of basin sunk in the floor for shallow water to swim and bathe in. Good luck with yours and let us know how things turn out.

Similar to this but on a much smaller (single duck) scale...

 

[Kathy farms]

Thank you, Kathy. We actually got 2 female Welsh Harlequin ducklings this spring so we have been working on integration with them.....which has been a slow process since it's mating season and now we have this broody duck!

I just wasn't sure if there was anything else I would need to do....because obviously I am not anxious or paranoid at all! Lol I wasn't planning on more ducks this year but we are SO excited to experience this! Mom is a khaki campbell and dad is a Pekin so I can't wait to see what their offspring look like!

You have some lovely ducklings in waiting.

 

[Kathy farms]

I really am not at all expert on broody ducks but I have seen hatching/brooding pens for them. The ones I have seen are elevated with a small nest sized house/coop, wire floors, a small area to move about with food and water and a small sort of basin sunk in the floor for shallow water to swim and bathe in. Good luck with yours and let us know how things turn out.

Similar to this but on a much smaller (single duck) scale...

That's a nice setup you've got there.

 

[Julie Birb]

That's a nice setup you've got there.

I agree. Cool.

 

[corri]

I really am not at all expert on broody ducks but I have seen hatching/brooding pens for them. The ones I have seen are elevated with a small nest sized house/coop, wire floors, a small area to move about with food and water and a small sort of basin sunk in the floor for shallow water to swim and bathe in. Good luck with yours and let us know how things turn out. Similar to this but on a much smaller (single duck) scale...

Thank you for sharing. We just finished constructing a chicken coop for our new chicks and now we will have to make a brooding pen. My husband will be thrilled.

 

[suzy4027]

I just spent for.ever. typing a reply of our setup that is an elevated design. Added pics, clicked on one to make sure it was the one I wanted and POOF, can't get back to my still adding pics to reply. Can't find it anywhere. It said I already submitted it. SERIOUSLY?!!!

AHHHH!!!!!!!

 

[corri]

I just spent for.ever. typing a reply of our setup that is an elevated design. Added pics, clicked on one to make sure it was the one I wanted and POOF, can't get back to my still adding pics to reply. Can't find it anywhere. It said I already submitted it. SERIOUSLY?!!!

AHHHH!!!!!!!

Gotta love technology......sigh.

 

[Kaessa]

Oh, thank you Kaessa. I love them so much. Right now I can hear Jibby doing his male song downstairs. I love it. I am stoked you had some a while back too. They are so entertaining to watch. They do make me laugh.

Pepper scarfing on peas makes me laugh. Good for you sneaking in a pet on her back and for touching Poke too. How did she allow that? But I have to ask you this; do you find it hard to not to be able to touch them freely when you are subjected to the sight of them all the time? It just kills me not to touch my birds. I have on occasion handled mine and when they are handled, one hand grips the bird and I kiss his or her head. Their little bodies are so soft and warm. This morning Jibby was all puffed out to the size and shape of a light bulb, bulbous on the breast end then tapering to the tail and I wanted so bad to grab and squeeze and kiss him but I couldn't. They freak out too much so I have to just admire them from a distance safe for them.

When I was house sitting my friend's ducks last year for a week I was so thrilled to go tend to them. Kinda doing the same things you all do with yours. Changing their pool water, changing their drinking water, replenishing the food dishes, hosing off the poopie patio, etc. But when it was time to put them to bed I got to pick them up. The Pekin hated it and would squirm like mad but the Welsh Harlequin was okay with it. I loved petting them and they were so soft. Ducks are a hugely cute bird in my opinion.

I love petting them, and I'm a bit sad that they're not cuddly. I had parrots for years and they're the cuddliest things ever. Ducks are sweet, though, and it makes me happy when trust me enough to eat out of my hand and let me touch them occasionally. I have dogs and cats and my sweetie if I need cuddles, I suppose.

They let me get away with touching them if I'm feeding them, because the lure of food is so strong they can't help but get in range. I've even got most of them eating their regular duck food out of my hand in the mornings when I let them out of their pen. They have to get their breakfast from me at first. Well, most of them. I don't make Peek and Poke eat out of my hand for breakfast. They're still really skittish and it takes peas to get them close enough. Even then, Poke still won't eat out of my hand. She waits until someone else knocks peas out of my hand and then picks them up off the ground.