[HesterF]

I've got a broody who's away with the fairies. She started with nine duck eggs - although one turned out to be infertile - and is down to two. Every few days (she's about 18 days in), I've gone in in the morning to find that she's moved some eggs but has forgotten one which has gone cold (or in one devastating incident, she'd pooed all over one, left two others to go cold and moved three). I do wonder whether it's because she always moves them around in the dark and just gets confused.

Anyhow, the point of this is that each time they've been cold but I've put them into the incubator and as far as I can tell five out of six are still alive. I'm just amazed how resilient they are - each time I've thought that would be it but they're still wriggling now. No idea whether they'll be OK to hatch or how strong thereafter but time will tell....

H

[Pedwardine]

Look forward to news of healthy hatchlings 

[in the hills]

We had a Friesian hen brood some eggs high in a hedge. She would be off the nest for long periods. When we felt the eggs they would be stone cold .... mum would be having a scratch around, dust bath, whatever  . Was sure they wouldn't hatch but they did. She knew best. 


   for your hatch

[HelenVF]

I'm always amazed at how badly some broodies treat their eggs and then get a decent hatch!

Helen

[HesterF]

This morning I went in first thing and she was fine, then after the school run she was happily brooding nothing with her last two eggs a few inches away  . They were both still warmish so I've bunged them in the incubator but I'll probably give them back to her later - maybe just the one. I would like her to hatch something and preferably to look after quite a few (was thinking of transferring them back after hatching) but if her mothering skills prove as random as her brooding skills, she may be a lost cause.

H

[manian]

i really wouldn't take them off her.
as in the hills says naturally they pop off their nests at times- in fact some incubators now mimic this
Mx
good luck

[HesterF]

I know they do get off - I've got/had four other broodies this season who've all got off to eat & poo. The difference is they go back to their eggs at some point. She will just go and brood anywhere, eggs seem to be fairly irrelevant so I have to check on her all the time to see if she's still on them. Anyhow, I will give her an egg or two back, I just don't want to risk too many because fertile eggs have been hard to come by until this brood so it would be a pity to waste them. Also it'll be easier if she hatches some than to try and break her broodiness any other way! I'll also give her some more ducklings when/if they hatch because with her (lack of) brain cells, I'm sure she won't notice a few more!

H