my lady duck is going broody

[silkiemother]

My lady duck willow, is going broody and I thought that I should get some advice from others to help me take care of her as she tries to figure out her brooding skills. Anyone have some advice for me for before and after the babies hatch? That is, if she hatches them.

 

[HuffleClaw]

@chickens really

 

[chickens really]

Personally I'd set up a crate in the same location as the nest and put her eggs inside. Once she is totally committed you can move her to a private setting so she is protected from other Ducks and predators..

 

[silkiemother]

I only have my drake.do you think she will be fine, brooding in the hens nesting box? I only have two laying hens

 

[chickens really]

I only have my drake.do you think she will be fine, brooding in the hens nesting box? I only have two laying hens

Once hatching is going to happen I'd definitely separate with a barrier so the other don't kill the peepers..

 

[silkiemother]

is it okay if two birds are sharing brooding duty?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

In my experience, co-brooding wasn't successful - eggs were broken as the broody ducks both tried to sit on the eggs. After that experience, I only allowed one broody to sit on a nest at a time.

Your experience may (of course) be different.

 

[sourland]

is it okay if two birds are sharing brooding duty?

In my experience hens cobrooding on a common nest frequently results in lower % hatch rates. It all depends on the hens involved. Egg 'stealing' and jostling can result in cracked/broken eggs.

 

[silkiemother]

they take turns like day shift and night shift. when one gets up, the other gets on the nest until she returns, and one is a duck and the other is a chicken

 

[HuffleClaw]

how’d it go?