The Duck Thread

[Debs Flock]

Hey there!

I've got a Cayuga / runner mix that i would like to let sit on some eggs. The drake that' would be the dad is a mallard / runner mix. The momma duck seems to have good mothering instincts - yesterday a strong wind blew down a branch near the eggs and she actually went and rolled the eggs one by one to a new location. She currently has a clutch of 5 eggs (one of which is almost pure black, and the rest are blue. So cool!). I have a couple of questions:

1. Is it normal that she's burying them under a pretty deep layer of bedding every morning? Will she unbury them to sit on them, or should I be unburying them?

2. How many eggs will make a typical clutch? If she's laying too many, can I replace some with unfertilized eggs to keep her from hatching like fifteen ducklings? Haha

3. Once she starts sitting on them, can I move her to a seprate enclosure, or will the nest have to stay where it is?

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Hello!

1. It is normal for them to bury the eggs. Ducks have good instincts. Some are better at it than others, of course.

2. I've heard of clutches in the low 20's. If you remove some, I'm not sure she'll still sit. Let's see what other members say.

3. Once she starts sitting, I don't think you should move anything. Once they hatch, you'll want to move them to a safe place where other ducks can't harm the babies.

I do hope others weigh in here since I've never hatched. Just offering my two cents.

Best of luck & please keep us posted.

 

[caesargirl]

Date the eggs and when she actually starts sitting, you can remove the oldest.

 

[tracyjg]

We got the other duck late last night . Female all white snow flakes is her name. The ducks or having so much fun together. They where all from previous owner ducks so they all new each other.

 

[sryglet]

I'm adding another question to my original questions. Haha. Thank you guys for being so knowledgable and patient I'm curious.

I have a hen that keeps going broody. Can she hatch duck eggs, and would you recommend it?

Just for fun, here's some pictures of Vader's nest and eggs. The black egg was the first egg of the clutch and she's layed a new egg every morning. She buries them in the morning when I let the birds out of their enclosure

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm adding another question to my original questions. Haha. Thank you guys for being so knowledgable and patient

I'm curious.

I have a hen that keeps going broody. Can she hatch duck eggs, and would you recommend it?

Just for fun, here's some pictures of Vader's nest and eggs. The black egg was the first egg of the clutch and she's layed a new egg every morning. She buries them in the morning when I let the birds out of their enclosure

Hens will hatch ducklings and from all I've read make great duck mamas. Your female ducks won't accept the ducklings as theirs so your hen will raise them as her own. Just make sure she can cover them all.

 

[sryglet]

D

Hens will hatch ducklings and from all I've read make great duck mamas. Your female ducks won't accept the ducklings as theirs so your hen will raise them as her own. Just make sure she can cover them all.  

Thank you! Do you know the answers to any of my other questions?

 

[Miss Lydia]

D
Thank you! Do you know the answers to any of my other questions?

Are they on this thread? I'll go have a look.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey there!

I've got a Cayuga / runner mix that i would like to let sit on some eggs. The drake that' would be the dad is a mallard / runner mix. The momma duck seems to have good mothering instincts - yesterday a strong wind blew down a branch near the eggs and she actually went and rolled the eggs one by one to a new location. She currently has a clutch of 5 eggs (one of which is almost pure black, and the rest are blue. So cool!). I have a couple of questions:

1. Is it normal that she's burying them under a pretty deep layer of bedding every morning? Will she unbury them to sit on them, or should I be unburying them?

2. How many eggs will make a typical clutch? If she's laying too many, can I replace some with unfertilized eggs to keep her from hatching like fifteen ducklings? Haha

3. Once she starts sitting on them, can I move her to a seprate enclosure, or will the nest have to stay where it is?

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Burying them is very typical she get them out once she is ready .

First time duck mamas i like to keep the clutch small like 8 and under mine usually get 6 or less. Once they go full blown broody you can go in and remove as many eggs as you want her to have she will be so into it she won't care as long as she still has some.

Once she is really broody I would def move her to her own space she'll go back to the original nest some till she gets her bearing on where you move her but she will be better off especially when ducklings hatch they will be safer. I usually keep close watch for 2-3 days after I move one to make sure she goes to her new nest. I have also waited till 2-3 days before hatch and moved mine then too. I just keep her closed up after that move. Since it would be lock down anyway. Keep water and food close by and room enough she can get out and poop so she keeps her nest clean.

 

[sryglet]

Burying them is very typical she get them out once she is ready .

First time duck mamas i like to keep the clutch small like 8 and under mine usually get 6 or less. Once they go full blown broody you can go in and remove as many eggs as you want her to have she will be so into it she won't care as long as she still has some.

Once she  is really broody I would def move her to her own space she'll go back to the original nest some till she gets her bearing on where you move her but she will be better off especially when ducklings hatch they will be safer. I usually keep close watch for 2-3 days after I move one to make sure she goes to her new nest. I have also waited till 2-3 days before hatch and moved mine then too. I just keep her closed up after that move. Since it would be lock down anyway. Keep water and food close by and room enough she can get out and poop so she keeps her nest clean.

I have an enclosure that's seven feet long, five feet wide, and four feet tall. Could I move her to that once she's been sitting on them and just keep her in there to hatch the eggs?

 

[caesargirl]

We got the other duck late last night . Female all white snow flakes is her name. The ducks or having so much fun together. They where all from previous owner ducks so they all new each other.

Congratulations on your new feathered buddy!!!