wondering if my Runner is going broody?

[stonykill]

Penelope our Fawn and white runner has been an egg hider since we got her about 4 or 5 weeks ago. She bury's them. My pekins don't do that. Tonight I'm watching her from the sliding glass door. I can see in the coop where her nest is. What I thought I saw was her making sure her eggs were buried. I look out 10 minutes later (nearly lockup for the night time) and she is on her ceramic eggs. Being a Runner, she got off her nest to stand next to her man Patrick as I lock up (they do this every night). So on to my question.
I know when I have a chicken going broody. I know those girls! But other than sitting are there any signs of a duck going broody? I have saved her eggs for the last 7 days, I was going to put them in the bator. I guess if she sits

they will go back to her!

 

[Amiga]

When my runners go broody, they run back in to sit on their nest after a brief breakfast/swim break, and pretty much stay on the nest most of the day with few breaks. They make lovely nests, and primp them up all pretty. Sechs and Funf have been known to sit together on the nest. Sometimes they take turns sitting with Elfie.

If they cannot get back to the nest (say, we are taking a walk), they make a very specific slow staccato noise and pace until they can get back to the nest.

 

[stonykill]

well this morning when I let them out, she was on the nest. She came out, ate, took a swim, pooped and after about a 1/2 hour is back on her nest. Which I think is just her 2 ceramic eggs. I have 6 or 7 of her eggs here in the house. If I indeed feel she is broody, how many eggs should she get? She is so little. 18 inches tall and maybe 4 lbs.

 

[jdywntr]

A previous runner I had hatched 10 out of 15 eggs and I helped with #11 a late comer. So even though small they can set on alot. I would say 7-10 may be a safer number to ensure that she is able to cover them.

 

[stonykill]

A previous runner I had hatched 10 out of 15 eggs and I helped with #11 a late comer. So even though small they can set on alot. I would say 7-10 may be a safer number to ensure that she is able to cover them.

wow! good to know! If she seems really serious I'll give her the eggs I have in the house. Pretty much if she sits today, and is there in the morning, she is getting eggs!

 

[jdywntr]

When mine was setting, 2 other hens continued laying in the same nest. She sat for 4 days after they started hatching. Only 2 were duds and of the other 3, I didn't get there in time to stop 2 from shrink wrapping so she incubated 13 out of 15. I am in Florida and it was July so that may have helped.
FYI she was a VERY protective broody. I can't tell you how many welts I had on my hands and arms from her during incubation, hatching and after hatch.

Good luck.

 

[stonykill]

she sat a few times yesterday and this morning came out, ate, did her business and went back to the nest. She is well on her way! Also Penelope is generally a really quiet duck. She has gotten quite vocal! And her feathers on her back between her wings tend to be raised and ruffled if she is out and about. I switched out her fake eggs for some of her real ones. Figured I would get that over with now! Here she is with her man Patrick.

 

[Miss Lydia]

she sat a few times yesterday and this morning came out, ate, did her business and went back to the nest. She is well on her way! Also Penelope is generally a really quiet duck. She has gotten quite vocal! And her feathers on her back between her wings tend to be raised and ruffled if she is out and about. I switched out her fake eggs for some of her real ones. Figured I would get that over with now! Here she is with her man Patrick.

when my girls are broody they fluff themselves up to look like sumo wrestlers when they come out. No one wants to mess with them. Sounds like she is on her way

 

[Mum]

Just commented on another thread how gorgeous Penelope and Patrick are. Which makes my next comment ever more sincere: I hope she hatched all the babies you put under her!

If she *should* abandon her eggs, you can always rescue them and have the incubator as a back up plan.

 

[stonykill]

Just commented on another thread how gorgeous Penelope and Patrick are. Which makes my next comment ever more sincere: I hope she hatched all the babies you put under her!

If she *should* abandon her eggs, you can always rescue them and have the incubator as a back up plan.

thanks! I actually have some of her eggs in the incubator as someone ordered a few runners. If she doesn't go thru with it, that is what I'll do. But both her and patrick were born from broody's last year, so I have faith in her!