Will my duck hatch chicken eggs? Help!

[justusnak]

OK...here is the problem.....I had a broody hen...for just over 2 weeks. I went in to feed and water her, and she ran out the door of the brooder.

Hmmm...so I left the door open all day..she never went back inside.

I took the eggs, and slid them under my Mallard hen, she is setting 7 of her own.

Not sure hers are fertile tho...this is her 3rd attempt. Will she hatch these out? Should I take them from her if she does?

I am afraid she will try to lead them to water...and they will drown. She is a free roaming duck. What should I do!??

 

[Freebie]

I think you are right, if she does hatch them out, she will take them to water. So I would definately take them.

 

[justusnak]

Thanks freebie.....I guess I will have to watch very closely....for the next week or so. I just cant believe that crazy hen would just up and leave them like that. She was soooo close! Now I have to brood more babies. I was just about finished with the brooder.....this will be the 5th set in there this year already! Chicken madness....does it never end??

 

[mudhen]

Never! It gets worse, and we just all help perpetrate it!!!

Good luck with the proto-peeps!

 

[Judymae]

We had a momma duck try to hatch chicken eggs last summer. She had over 15 eggs under her! Every time a hen would lay an egg she would run over and steal it. It was great entertainment! But they never hatched. She finally gave up on it. Right now she is setting on 6 of her own eggs. I hope these hatch for her! We were also afraid of her leading the chickies to water. I had full intentions of taking the chicks before she could do that!

 

[justusnak]

Well.....i checked on her today...she still has the chicken eggs under her. At least she didnt abandon the nest, or push the eggs out. I will check on her every morning, and evening.

hopeing this works....altho I really dont need more chicks!! LOL