Tiny serama hen found the call ducks nest!

[Chickenaddict]

My tiny little millie found my call ducks nest and has decided to sit on.......11 duck eggs! She covered all but one and boy was it a sight! I don't think I am gonna let her hatch out any ducklings or should I? Has anyone ever let a serama hen hatch duck eggs? I fear that if I do let her hatch them once they get old enough for the pool she is gonna have a heart attack LOL. I am interested to hear others thoughts on this little dillema I am having here.

 

[miniwhipkey]

I would let her hatch them. I have heard of several people that let their chickens hatch duck. They are really better than a duck. Good luck. I hope it works.

 

[sparkles2307]

We didnt have chickens hatch duck, but had a duck that would hatch chickens...everyone was fine, by the time they were old enough to figure out that they were different they were alraedy going their seperate ways anyway.

 

[chickintexas]

Awww! That is so precious!!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

let her have them, i've had chickens and turkeys hatch water fowl before work great. plus 'finders keepers'

 

[miniwhipkey]

Scott, on the duck thread lets his chicken raise his call ducks. He gets about 95% hatch rate from her.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I would like to let her hatch them but I am afraid she won't be able to cover them very long but I suppose I could add a heat lamp just in case.... I will be taking half of them from her because 11 is just tooo many for her IMO. A friend of mine told me a story about one of her cochin hens hatching call ducklings for her years ago. She was out for a walk with the babies one day and passed a pool, babies dove in and so did mama cochin! Luckily my friend was right there to get the hen out of the pool before she drown.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
Do you think I should let her cover them all then just toss the bad ones in about a week when I candle them? Or should I just give her 5-6?

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
Do you think I should let her cover them all then just toss the bad ones in about a week when I candle them? Or should I just give her 5-6?

keep an eye on her if shes having trouble remove some, it's a good idea to candle at a week to 10 days and dump the duds

 

[Chickenaddict]

Sounds like a plan

Thanks so much for the advise guys.... here we go

Day 2 is today