Welsh Harlequin laying questions.

[heartagramtc]

So i have a few questions regarding my welsh harlequin. let me give you the run down of my set-up so you know kinda what I'm working with here.

Earlier this year I built a coop about 16'W x 16'D x ~6-8'H, to house some future chickens and ducks. once i was done building it, we went out to a local person and bought 10 hens and two ducks. we ended up getting 2 Rhodes, 2 Arucana, 2 leghorns, 2 astrolorpes, and 2 golden sex-links, as well as a pair of Welsh Harlequins. Now after getting the ducks and chickens we decided to add on an 8'w x ~5'd x 3'h with its own separate house intended for the ducks, with their own swimming pool, lounge chairs, spa... OK maybe not the last two! here i will attach a picture to give you a better idea of what i have,
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/x3rothru3ight/Chicken coop/2012-07-08195840.jpg

Now to get to my actual questions. Our Female Welsh, Daisy, has been laying eggs for us for some time now and only recently has she been laying in the exact same spot, i let her lay for a few days to see if she keeps laying and she does. so now 12 eggs later I'm worried about her and her possible ducklings.

First question i notice that she is "panting" while laying on her eggs, now i am in the central valley so our temps this past few weeks has been above 95*F. I'm not sure if this is normal or not, she doesn't get of her nest for long periods of time, i think because the chickens like to take turns being mommy and laying on the nest. and peck her away when she tries to push them off. now the other problem that ties into this...


Second question, I'm not sure if i should keep her where she is or if i should move her to her own nesting house. I'm worried that if any ducklings hatch the chickens will kill the ducklings. which we do not want. now you may just say separate them, and you'll be fine, however where she chose to nest is under the chickens house i will post some pics to show better.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/x3rothru3ight/Chicken coop/2012-07-08195953.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/x3rothru3ight/Chicken coop/2012-07-08195906.jpg


and of course my beautiful girl Daisy
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/x3rothru3ight/Chicken coop/2012-07-08195932.jpg

And our handsome boy Donald
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/x3rothru3ight/Chicken coop/2012-07-08200017.jpg


so I'm in need to know if i should try to move her nest into their own section and block it off, i just feel bad because they had such space to roam.

should i try to fence her off underneath the hen house, which isn't ideal as it would be difficult to keep her fed and with water.

I'm just worried that if i move her she will freak out and not lay on her eggs anymore.

Any help is greatly appreciated

*EDIT*

Also if anyone needs to see better pics just let me know, i can post some of the construction pics to get a better visual.

 

[Amiga]

Hi,

I don't have a bunch of time right now, but I know that moving the nest of a duck that has started to sit eggs often stops her from sitting the eggs.

You do need to protect the ducklings. It is entirely unpredictable what the other birds will do.

In fact, it is unpredictable what Daisy will do. She may be a good mom or a not so good mom. Same for Donald.

Regarding the panting, I think she is too hot. How you can get her more shade or cool or water, I apologize but I don't have any good ideas right now. One possibility is that you take the eggs and finish incubating them with an incubator, and get her into a safer spot, temperature-wise.

Broody ducks do hiss and make a panting gesture when they feel threatened, as well.