Author Topic: Hatching help please! (Read 1402 times)

CrunchyKat · « **on:** August 21, 2011, 10:45:37 am »

I have some hatching eggs coming in the post tomorrow, I had planned to put them in my incubator (they're Maran). However one of my Muscovy ducks is appearing to be very broody, hogging the nest box and sitting on any egg she can find. I'm tempted to try her on the hatching eggs but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any experience of ducks hatching chicks?? I don't know if I trust her to stay on them. $:-\$

goosepimple · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2011, 12:00:37 pm »

Muscovy ducks take their ducklings into water very quickly - she will drown your chicks. You can't keep them away from water - the duck will want a wash at least once a day and the chicks will want to follow her, don't do it. It wouldn't be fair to take them away as soon as they've hatched - Muscovies make great mums - why not just get some ebay Muscovy eggs for her instead and put your Marans in the incubator. Happy ending.

doganjo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2011, 01:02:56 pm »

Absolutely agree!! You can put duck eggs under a hen, but NOT the other way round. It's actually quite funny when the ducks get old enough to want to go in water and the mother hen goes bananas!