The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: PJB on June 27, 2013, 03:26:56 pm
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I have 2 Lavendar Bantams that have gone very broody Again! So i have put them in a separate hen house and put some duck eggs under them. I have 3 Peking Ducks and one is a Drake so
taking a chance that one or 2 eggs will be fertile.
I have previously done this with chicken eggs but not Ducks.
I assume there should be no problems although if successful the size of the Ducklings may be difficult for Bantams to look after.
Any thoughts if im successful?
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My bantam game hen just hatched 2 appleyard ducklings and she is looking after them quite well. I dont think the size of the ducklings have bothered her but she may get a bit confused when they get bigger than she is, but hopefully they will be more independent by then. I had a large hen hatch and look after 4 aylesbury ducklings and at 3-4 weeks old were almost as big as she was. She would have looked after them for weeks more but they didn't need to be kept warm by her at this stage, because of the summer weather, so we put them in with the other ducks and they are growing like mad and are happy. I thought it about time they realized they were ducks not chucks. Your bantams will probably be fine and happy they get any babies, if broody enough. Mine were.
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Yep, that's the only problem I could think of - the fact they grow so fast so they'd be nearly as big as your bantam before they get that many feathers in. Mine are five weeks now and only have sparse feathers but would be as big as a bantam. So just watch the weather - hopefully it'll be warm anyway but be prepared in case it's not.
H
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Thanks for that. I suppose if weather did turn for the worse i could take them inside under a lamp
no problem. I assume i cannot put in with 3 adult Peking Ducks (2 femail, 1 male)?
I suppose they would not be maternal.
Thanks