Bibbed ducks - broodiness

neil · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:03 pm

Hi,

I have a pair of these ducks [ black body and white chest bib] at about a year of age and the female has been laying for about 2 weeks and produced 10 eggs. She has laid them in a shallow depression in the cabbage patch [ yes, yes I know about the real birds and the bees] ignoring the plastic dog kennel lined with hay and straw !! But, how long will she lay before becoming clucky? Should I collect the eggs in the mean time or will this lack of eggs prevent her from going broody ? Should I try to shift the eggs to the kennel, she ignored the first attempt after 4 eggs.

First time event, so not sure of how to manage this situation. :-?

Cheers,
Neil

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:05 am

hello Neil [smilie=welcome.gif]

,

neil wrote:

She has laid them in a shallow depression in the cabbage patch [ yes, yes I know about the real birds and the bees]

well, you may know about it all, but has anyone told the duck? [smilie=a_rolling.gif]

I'll throw in my bobs worth, but someone, wiser and more experienced may hopefully help you out.......Do you lock her up at night? I do know experts suggest not letting ducks out until about midday, that way, they are more inclined to lay in their pen/house, this may encourage her to view the kennel favourably.....if you move her eggs into there,and keep her locked up,she may keep laying....

I know there are different views about whether to leave the eggs with her, some may think it's a waste of eggs, but if it is her eggs you want her to incubate, I would tend to leave them all in the nest, I do think ducks ( and hens) instinctively know how many eggs to lay before they start to sit.

I am no expert on all duck breeds, but she sounds like she may be a blue swedish

best of luck, and let us know how you get on

newton_v · **Posted:** Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:02 am

Don't know about bibbed but I would imagine its the same for all ducks so I would collect them leaving just a few to trigger her to sit then put the eggs back under her. if you keep the eggs you collect in a cool dark place you will get more hatch than if they were left out side.

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Bibbed ducks - broodiness

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