The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on June 09, 2013, 11:23:10 am
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After my following post it turns out i've got 2 broody ducks! They are sharing the duck house and stealing one anothers eggs and putting them in there own nests. I let them out of a morning and 9 times out of 10 they come off the nest.
Should I keep them all in the stable so they stay on the eggs? They have everything they need in there I just like to let them have a wander. I'd like some ducklings!
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I had 2 ducks sharing a nest and they did come out during the day until they thought they had enough eggs then sat side by side on two nests. When one got up for a walk the other would move one or two eggs into her nest, but sometimes you would find them swapping nests. If one got off the other would move to her nest but they seemed ok with this system. They hatched 20 ducklings between them and l thought one would steel all the babies and keep them for her own but they are both looking after the little ones and share babysitting duties if one wants a bath. One of the ducks is the dominant one and if she does not get her bath she can be a bit bossy but usually they get on and are not aggressive. They are muscovy. I was told to let them get on with it and thats what l did, they seem to know what they are doing. We have 20 ducklings now.
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I'd marked 12 eggs so I know which ones not to eat! They have split them 50/50 atm with 6 each. Should I just leave them to lay more eggs until they sit full time?
Well done on 20 ducklings!
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I left mine to lay as many as they wanted, dont know if this is the right way but it works with my muscovy ducks. What sort of ducks do you have? Mine sat on them all night and went off all day to start with. I thought they could not hatch any doing this but it seems they know best. Have not yet had any other sort of duck go broody so do not know if they act differently.
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My girls are Aylesbury's
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Have not had experience with aylesburys so not sure what to advise, personally l would be inclined to leave and see what happens, but that's just me. Sorry.
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That's ok, please don't say sorry! You've been great! I think I will just let them do as they please! They have been very loyal layers and I feel like I owe it to them :)
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Good luck.
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I would also mark 1 nest of eggs and leave the other nest unmarked, if they are really close move one of the nests a tiny bit each day until they are not at reaching point to steal each others eggs
until they sit tight I would also sort the eggs out each day when they are out to make sure they both have the right eggs
Are they finished laying or still laying ?
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Its goimg to.be impossible to move the nests apart as the house is just wide enough for for side by side. All the ducks share the house for laying but atm.they are all still laying
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In that case you will have to mark all of the eggs but do a different coloured mark on each nest , then you can sort them out daily and remove fresh eggs otherwise everything will be at a different stage of incubation