Have an old Muscovy female duck who has wanted to hatch brood for years. No male ducks. Unknown to me, the children felt sorry for her and put chicken eggs underneath her. An accident to a couple eggs has proved the eggs to be fertile, about 15-17 days along, I'd guess.
Should we leave them under her? She was a good duck mother - to ducks- in the past. Will she kill them when hatched? Should we try to put them under the most broody hen possiblity? Try to hatch them ourselves?
I know chickens can mother ducklings, but I can't find out if it works well the other way around. Can you help?
Will this duck hatch chicks?
muscovies are great broodies! my hens and ducks are sharing a nest right now... we will see who gets to set. but our muscovy duck hatched out a beautiful chick for us last november, and didn't hurt him a bit, and continued setting on her own eggs while we moved the chick to a brooder. she had five chick eggs, but only one fertile!
you hae some smart/sweet kiddos!
tf
Oh, you GOTTA take pictures of this!
I have an Aconna duck and a silkie chicken who just jointly hatched a brood of 7 (so far) ducklings. They have set the nest all month without ever once looking at each other (they faced opposite directions), now that they are hatching, both keep trying to get the chicks to come under them. It's pretty funny.
I don't know why she wouldn't be a good mother, she may just get confused when they don't want to swim!
She may well try to make them swim, or they may not realize that it isn't okay even though Mama says it is.
I would keep them well away from water.
Suze
Makes OUR identity crises seem minor, doesn't it?
LOL
What identity crisis? I remember when I had a kitten who thought my Doberman was it's mama and the Dobie let me know this was her "pup". The cat went on to raise the Bouvier that I got after losing the Dobes. (I had 3 at the time) She (the cat) thought she was a dog!!!
GG
What identity crisis?
I remember when I had a kitten who thought my Doberman was it's mama and the Dobie let me know this was her "pup". The cat went on to raise the Bouvier that I got after losing the Dobes. (I had 3 at the time) She (the cat) thought she was a dog!!!
GG
LOL, your double post makes it look like you are having a memory problem while the rest of us have identity crises!
tf
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TF, I have absolutely no idea how that happened. I only posted it once. I guess cyber-space decided to act up for me. Must be because it's the full moon and nature goes a little crazy then. At least I think it is the full moon tonite.
GG
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close enough, it will be full Sunday, Earth Day, 5:26 AM EDST....
Thanks, TF.
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