First time hatching attempt, any advice?

[E.D.GardenFarm]

Hi All,
We recently noticed our Aylesbury duck was sitting on eggs and had built herself a little nest. After a while we decided to get some fertile eggs for her to sit on, so we got 4 yesterday (ive been told they are Indian runner and Indian runner/mallard cross, two of each) and went to put them in the nest this morning.
She only had 2 eggs in the nest but I took them out and put all 4 new ones in, I'll check on her later today to see if she still sitting on them all.

If anyone has any advice or tips we'd appreciate it

 

[Isaac 0]

Hi!

Its always good to make sure no others ducks/unwanted pest can get into her nest.Clean her nest out often(I do it every week).Since she is an aylesbury there is a good chance she might crush an egg in which case you should clean the nest out completely to help prevent bacterial growth on other eggs.

I've also found it helpful with heavy weight breeds to put a cushion(Towel) on the bottom instead of just wood which is pretty hard surface for the eggs to be on.

Good luck on the hatch!

 

[chickens really]

Hello. I just provided lots of extra shavings and some straw in the nesting site and my Duck Hen gather and build up the nests themselves. I had Appleyard hens and they never broke an egg. I never clean out my nests either. Most of my Hens line their nest with down from their bellies..

 

[quackiemama]

@WVduckchick might be of some help

 

[WVduckchick]

I’m guessing you have no drakes? Do you have other ducks? If anyone else can get to the nest, I’d suggest marking the 4 with sharpie marker. Just any ole mark on the fat end makes it easier to look for them, and to swap out any others that may get added.

If she adds any herself, then she may not have built a nest big enough to suit her. Let her keep adding until she sits continually, then remove the extras after the first week.

Lots of stuff to prepare for, when hatch time gets close, so keep us posted and we’ll help you along the way! Good luck!

Pics would be wonderful

 

[E.D.GardenFarm]

I’m guessing you have no drakes? Do you have other ducks? If anyone else can get to the nest, I’d suggest marking the 4 with sharpie marker. Just any ole mark on the fat end makes it easier to look for them, and to swap out any others that may get added.

If she adds any herself, then she may not have built a nest big enough to suit her. Let her keep adding until she sits continually, then remove the extras after the first week.

Lots of stuff to prepare for, when hatch time gets close, so keep us posted and we’ll help you along the way! Good luck!

Pics would be wonderful

No drakes and no other ducks anymore but we do have chickens, she has been sitting pretty continuously for a few days before this and hasn't laid in about 2/3 days.
The chickens don't go over to her unless we do and we are trying not to disturb her, but even then we push them back or she will give out to them. They don't lay there though and I don't think she'd let them if they tried :-D
I'll try add pics now

 

[E.D.GardenFarm]

 

[E.D.GardenFarm]

First pic is from when I swapped the eggs, she was up having a drink so she had covered them with feathers, I tried to put the new ones in the ssame spots
Then it's her on the nest and eeggs, I know you can see the egg in the last one but she had just settled down, she fixed everything up afterwards
It was cute watching her fix the sides of the nest and tuck more feathers around the eggs

 

[AquaDuck]

Pretty lady! Looks like she's accepted your egg swap. And now the waiting begins...

You don't need to keep food next to her btw. In fact, it's best not to. She'll go off the nest once a day to eat, drink and unload one humongous poop. And you don't want that stinky stuff anywhere near the eggs!

 

[E.D.GardenFarm]

Pretty lady! Looks like she's accepted your egg swap. And now the waiting begins...

You don't need to keep food next to her btw. In fact, it's best not to. She'll go off the nest once a day to eat, drink and unload one humongous poop. And you don't want that stinky stuff anywhere near the eggs!

It definitely does, that's good to know about the food I'll move it away, the chickens like it too so they'll be less likely to go over then