Broody duck???

schnapper · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:46 pm

My Khaki Campbell has been sitting on her nest of eggs for over a week now. Since she began, she has continued to lay more eggs though! :-?

A few days ago I transferred some eggs to an incubator as she had 14 and was struggling to cover them all. I left her with seven and now she is up to ten again!

Is this normal?

With chooks, once they go broody they stop laying.

She is definitely sitting. The only time she leaves them is when I go into the pen and get too close to the A-frame she has built her nest in (she's not very tame).

I would love to see some ducklings running around (my chook breeding has been a disaster this year) so I would like to know what to do with her.

Help please!

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:07 pm

She laid more because you took some away, I've had a duck sit & hatch 21 eggs. I would do nothing, let her lay all the eggs she wants, she will hatch the eggs that she incubated first and leave the rest. Hope you get lots of ducklings :-D

Jeff

schnapper · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:12 pm

OK.

She's only a little duck......fingers crossed. :lol:

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Schnapper, Jeff's right if you take eggs away they lay more. A Campbell should sit on 12-14 eggs and hatch around 80+% on average. Is the Drake a Campbell as well? Would be great to see a few more Waterfowl photos in the Gallery, hopefully will see your ducklings + Parents.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:18 pm

She's in with an Indian runner Drake and Duck(?).

I've never seen any "action" from my ducks, geese or peafowl, whereas I have with my Chooks and Rooster.

The duck has 10 eggs and the goose is sitting on 7 eggs so fingers crossed at least some will be fertile.

The eggs I took away are in an incubator (a real one, not my shonky home made one) so I'll candle them soon. That should give me some idea anyway....

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Schnapper, what type of incubator do you use? Good luck with the eggs.

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:41 pm

I've hired a Bellsouth 100 manual turn (what a pain) but am looking at getting a HovaBator Auto turn Turbofan.
I'm also looking to get some Silkies, chiefly because I like them, but also for their broodiness.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Schnapper, The bellsouth is not a bad little bator, but yes would be a pain in Manual. What size (egg capacity) are you looking at in the Hovabator?

Thanks
Peacocks Australia :lol:

schnapper · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:40 pm

The ones you see on Ebay from the US (Double R ?). The export model with 42(?) egg capacity.

To solve the manual turn pain in the meantime I've made an egg rack from welded mesh (similar to aviary mesh but with larger spaces) where I took a 15-20cm long by about 8cm wide strip and curve it along the long edge (down the middle) to make a "Mexican Tortilla" shape. I then cable tie the open ends so it wraps around the eggs. It holds 5 eggs side by side meaning I can flip the eggs in about 2 seconds instead of 20!
I haven't done it too tight as I'm unsure if the eggs expand once inside the incubator.?. :idea:

Obviously three days out from hatching, when the eggs no longer need turning I'll cut the cable ties and release the eggs.

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:51 pm

What a great idea schnapper, a Photo would be good? don't believe eggs expand with heat but better to be safe.

Jeff

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