Help Please! 2 hens wanting to sit on same clutch of eggs

becca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:44 am **Posts:** 3

3 days ago one of my Indian Runner hens went broody over 13 fertile eggs (the first time one of my birds has gone broody). She has built her nest, hisses when I come near her etc etc. Later that same day one of my Pekin girls went clucky too. The problem is they both want the same clutch of eggs. I tried fencing off the nest and allowing only 1 of the would-be-mums access but she became distressed and wouldn't sit on the eggs again until I let the other 'mum' back in. I've tried creating another nest nearby with eggs in it but they are not interested in separating. So now I have 2 very clucky ducks that will only sit when they are together. Has anyone had this happen before? Should I just let them do their own thing or is my two-mum senario not likely to have a happy ending? I'd love some duckling so will be gutted if this doesn't work out.

Another quick question - what is the best thing to use to mark eggs with? I tried pencil but it just rubbed off. (I want to mark the original 13 so I can remove any others they collect from the other ducks)

Any help would be great, thanks!

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:20 pm

becca wrote:

what is the best thing to use to mark eggs with? I tried pencil but it just rubbed off.

Use a permanent marker to mark the air sac end of the egg. It probably creates no serious consequences anyway, but it is even less of a problem at the air sac end....in my opinion.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

let the girls sit together if they insist -I have 2 geese that sat together with success - also have 3 chooks that always share the same clutch one goes clucky the others follow and they refuse to be seperated one time they hatched over 30 chicks [combined heat etc]

if yr girls are happy to share just let them do so - it always comes down to Mother Nature in the end no matter how many mums are sitting on the eggs

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

I have actually had great success with two hens sharing the nest duties and have hatched several clutches this way. Try not to interfere too much, they seem to have the order worked out pretty well. I noticed with mine it allowed one hen to get up with chicks when there were still a couple of eggs to hatch which meant the chicks got feed and the remaining hen still sat and hatched the late bubs, which in turn means no losses from hens abandoning late hatching eggs to go off with the chicks.

Good luck. :-D

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:26 pm

Sebducks wrote:

allowed one hen to get up with chicks when there were still a couple of eggs to hatch which meant the chicks got feed and the remaining hen still sat and hatched the late bubs, which in turn means no losses from hens abandoning late hatching eggs to go off with the chicks.

Good luck. :-D

clever girls

Chook kid · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:41 pm

ive got a clucky at the moment and its her second time and i havent had her for a year

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Seems to be the unseasonal early warm weather that has got mine all wanting to have babies. I have one sitting in the bottom of my son's old pram on about 9 eggs!

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:52 pm

Sebducks wrote:

Seems to be the unseasonal early warm weather that has got mine all wanting to have babies.

my white mallard has ducklings which are almost 3 weeks old, she was getting an early start :-D

becca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:44 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks alot everyone - I've just left them to it and will let you know how it goes

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 5:23 pm

great pic

I love the way ducks line their nests with their feathers,

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Help Please! 2 hens wanting to sit on same clutch of eggs

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