The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: lord flynn on February 18, 2015, 12:09:01 pm

Title: broody duck
Post by: lord flynn on February 18, 2015, 12:09:01 pm

my older hen is showing signs of getting broody. I'm not decided yet on whether I'll let her sit just yet but was wondering if you separate them off the same as with a broody hen?

Title: Re: broody duck
Post by: HesterF on February 19, 2015, 12:40:42 pm

I believe ducks are hard to move once they decide where they want to sit so maybe you could separate her off now and make somewhere up for her and keep your fingers crossed that's where she chooses....

Title: Re: broody duck
Post by: Clansman on February 19, 2015, 10:06:09 pm

I usually just stick some eggs under them.

Sometimes its chicken or turkey eggs  :innocent:

You just need to be careful she doesn't try and take them for a swim!  ;D

Title: Re: broody duck
Post by: lord flynn on February 20, 2015, 06:12:04 pm

seems like a false alarm-which is good. I do want ducklings but not quite yet :)

Title: Re: broody duck-for realz I think this time.
Post by: lord flynn on February 26, 2015, 10:01:35 am

spoke too soon lol, she's now plucked out some down and is sitting tight. She's doing it in the duckhouse which is fine just now as was moving them into the barn this weekend anyway-she can just stay where she is. I'll let her sit as I think its a bit mean not to-and because she looks so happy  :D

She can only be sitting on two/three (if she's sitting on the other's) eggs as I cleaned them out yesterday morning. Will she just continue to lay until she (feels) she has enough?

Title: Re: broody duck
Post by: Womble on February 26, 2015, 04:22:46 pm

She might squeeze out another one or two, but in my experience they tend to stop laying once broody?

Title: Re: broody duck
Post by: lord flynn on February 26, 2015, 04:48:16 pm

strange! I know muscovies are a bit different though, do you have them? She's definitely not got a stash in there!