Broody questions - 2 ducks on 1 nest, eggs will hatch on a few different days...

[Homesteadin]

First time we have had broody ducks...

We have two muscovies wanting to brood in the same nest. The second one just went broody yesterday, but the first one has been sitting on eggs for a couple weeks.

I tried setting up a new nest nearby for the newly-broody one, but they rolled the new eggs into the other nest with the older eggs and insist on brooding together!

If we let them be, are we going to have a problem with them fighting over babies? Will they get confused when some start hatching and others don't yet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

First time we have had broody ducks...

We have two muscovies wanting to brood in the same nest. The second one just went broody yesterday, but the first one has been sitting on eggs for a couple weeks.

I tried setting up a new nest nearby for the newly-broody one, but they rolled the new eggs into the other nest with the older eggs and insist on brooding together!

If we let them be, are we going to have a problem with them fighting over babies? Will they get confused when some start hatching and others don't yet?

Either or, one can care for the ones that hatch first most likely the one brooding the longest and the other will sit till next eggs hatch. OR they will fight and ducklings will get trampled to death. I have never had any of my Muscovy females share a next of eggs they do not want any other duck close to them or the nest while sitting and you best not come close after hatch either. I don't know what to tell you it may work out and it may not. If mine I'd take all the newest eggs [hopefully you marked them] and put the new broody in a closed space and then some how enclose the oldest broody in with her eggs with food and water. If the newest one doesn't stay then chalk it up to a learning experience and most likely once the ducklings hatch with the oldest brooder she'll go broody again. They love to brood.

Oh my goodness just realized who I am speaking to. Great to see you!

 

[Homesteadin]

Either or, one can care for the ones that hatch first most likely the one brooding the longest and the other will sit till next eggs hatch. OR they will fight and ducklings will get trampled to death. I have never had any of my Muscovy females share a next of eggs they do not want any other duck close to them or the nest while sitting and you best not come close after hatch either. I don't know what to tell you it may work out and it may not. If mine I'd take all the newest eggs [hopefully you marked them] and put the new broody in a closed space and then some how enclose the oldest broody in with her eggs with food and water. If the newest one doesn't stay then chalk it up to a learning experience and most likely once the ducklings hatch with the oldest brooder she'll go broody again. They love to brood.

Oh my goodness just realized who I am speaking to. Great to see you!

Hello Miss Lydia! I almost private messaged you with these questions, but decided not to since you probably have all kinds of people who as you for advice. Happy you responded to my post!

These two are sisters and they're our only muscovies, so you can imagine they're thick as thieves. I have tried putting up chicken wire in the coop to keep all other ducks away from the first one that went broody and the other muscovy kept getting in with her somehow to spend the nights with her! And now they both just want to sit on this same nest 24/7! If I separate them I am going to have to really make the setup intruder-proof somehow. If I can figure it out, I will do that. I would rather be safe than sorry.

I didn't mark the new ones because I didn't know if the 2nd gal would stay on them - but the older ones are marked. Whew!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello Miss Lydia! I almost private messaged you with these questions, but decided not to since you probably have all kinds of people who as you for advice.

Happy you responded to my post!

These two are sisters and they're our only muscovies, so you can imagine they're thick as thieves. I have tried putting up chicken wire in the coop to keep all other ducks away from the first one that went broody and the other muscovy kept getting in with her somehow to spend the nights with her! And now they both just want to sit on this same nest 24/7! If I separate them I am going to have to really make the setup intruder-proof somehow. If I can figure it out, I will do that. I would rather be safe than sorry.

I didn't mark the new ones because I didn't know if the 2nd gal would stay on them - but the older ones are marked. Whew!

Maybe just leave them alone and be there when hatch begins. They may do fine together. Hopefully it will work out if it doesn't then you be ready to brood. I have had a few of my chickens share nesting and it has gone great. I have just seen how my Scovy girls are sounds like yours are really bonded. so it could work. You PM me any time you want.

 

[Homesteadin]

Maybe just leave them alone and be there when hatch begins. They may do fine together. Hopefully it will work out if it doesn't then you be ready to brood. I have had a few of my chickens share nesting and it has gone great. I have just seen how my Scovy girls are sounds like yours are really bonded. so it could work. You PM me any time you want.

Okay I think I will try that - ,leaving them alone. I'll be ready to separate once some hatching begins if need be. I'll let you know how it goes! Thank you as always Hope you are well!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay I think I will try that - ,leaving them alone. I'll be ready to separate once some hatching begins if need be. I'll let you know how it goes! Thank you as always

Hope you are well!

Doing fine and enjoying some warm weather finally and some new Runner ducklings and bantam chicks.

Let us know how it goes when hatch begins hopefully they will be fine together.

 

[Homesteadin]

Doing fine and enjoying some warm weather finally and some new Runner ducklings and bantam chicks.

Let us know how it goes when hatch begins hopefully they will be fine together.

The first round is due to hatch next week, I'll keep ya posted!

 

[Homesteadin]

Also, any advice for dealing with a drake that is constantly running off and over-breeding just one duck? This is Jo, the drake you helped me treat for bumblefoot when he got that last fall. He is a good guy otherwise - not aggressive toward the girls or anything, but there is just ONE that he for some reason has singled out. He never lets her hang around the flock and every chance he gets he chases her down like mad and mates her. Poor girl is looking pretty mangy from being bred so much and I generally feel bad for her.

 

[Duck Drover]

We just had two ducks on one nest and when the ducklings started hatching we brought in the pipped eggs and hatched the ducklings in our hatching incubator so we can group the ducklings with unrelated ducklings to prevent buyers from inbreeding in the future. We have had two ducks raise ducklings together but they had separate nests and we put them in a safe pen together. The ducklings formed one group and the ducks both mothered the entire group so it can be done.

We have done mostly incubator hatches in the past but this year we are leaving nests for the hens to hatch since I am not able to walk until I have surgery, which has been delayed 3 months already (my initial injury was 10 months ago but I reinjured it for 6 months in order to keep my job so I need surgery to put everything back together so I can walk again). Our hens do not seem to mind nesting close to each other and our drakes don't bother the hens on nests so the only safety issue we have with raising ducklings outside is the crows.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also, any advice for dealing with a drake that is constantly running off and over-breeding just one duck? This is Jo, the drake you helped me treat for bumblefoot when he got that last fall. He is a good guy otherwise - not aggressive toward the girls or anything, but there is just ONE that he for some reason has singled out. He never lets her hang around the flock and every chance he gets he chases her down like mad and mates her. Poor girl is looking pretty mangy from being bred so much and I generally feel bad for her.

I'd put your drake in some time out by himself. He will stress out any duck with over mating and her health will suffer. I have no idea why they do this she maybe low in pecking order for one. Alot of members have to keep their drakes in separate pens to keep this from happening. as long as they can all still see each other he won't be too uncomfortable but at least your duck will get some time to grow feathers and have peace.