How do you survive hatching eggs and a broody duck? I had no idea what I was getting into the first time one of our ducks decided to brood a clutch of eggs. Here’s a recap of the events as they unfolded a few years ago. Since then, every year, at least one of our ducks has decided to set a clutch of eggs. We have had a few successful hatches and quite a few heartbreaks from predators stealing eggs. It is quite an experience.
Hatching Eggs and a Broody Duck
For the past month our buff duck hen has been broody. I went away at the beginning of August and when I returned she had made herself very comfortable on a nest of 10 duck eggs. And oh my, was she broody. She would sit there and quack at the top of her lungs, her duck bill wide open. I referred to it as shouting and asked her to please use her indoor voice.
Like clockwork, every day, twice a day, momma would leave the nest to relieve herself, grab a bite to eat, stretch her wings and take a short swim and grooming session. Then she would shout, all the way back to the nest, letting all the other ducks know how special her task was. This is not unusual behavior for a broody duck with hatching eggs. While she was off the nest, our Buff Drake would stand by the nest guarding it, while broody momma took her break. He wasn’t as protective as she was, nor as threatening, but he did guard the eggs from the other ducks. One of our Rouen Hens would join him, from time to time. I was never sure if she wanted to sit on the hatching eggs or if she just wanted to be part of the miracle of life.
Checking for Development
I candled the eggs and sure enough, most of them were developing. The ones that didn’t seem to be developing, I left there because I had an idea of what would happen next.
Time went on, and momma did her job admirably. Until last week. Momma started to kick eggs out of the nest. This was what I expected, and upon opening the rejected eggs, there was no developing duckling. Just rotten eggs.
As this week began, I was hopeful that the three remaining eggs would hatch. The expected blessed event was to happen over Labor Day weekend so I was getting excited.
And then…..
Then, the worst happened. Momma kicked one of the good eggs out of the nest yesterday. I noticed the nest was not being sat on. I can’t really explain how I knew but it just looked different. Then, I felt the two remaining eggs. Cold as ice. Not even remotely warm. But I was in denial, and left them in the nest. I waited for momma to return to setting but it got dark and I had to go home.
Today, Momma was out hanging out with the other ducks and not quacking up a storm any longer. In fact, she was acting like all the other ducks again! I hoped that meant that the ducklings had hatched and she had them somewhere inside. But when I entered the coop, there were just two very cold, abandoned eggs sitting in the nest. No one was guarding the eggs. They were definitely abandoned. I removed them from the nest.
I had to know. Breaking open the eggs revealed two almost fully ready dead ducklings. Nature took over and for some reason, theses little ducks were not fit to hatch out. Maybe they had health problems, maybe momma was a bad momma. We will never know the answer.
Moving Forward
I have had success in the past, hatching out our duck eggs using the incubator. We still have four that we hatched here, and they are healthy and active 15 month old ducks. So I know our duck’s eggs are fertile and capable of producing life.
Am I disappointed? Yes, absolutely. This was a tough year as far as bringing babies up here at Timber Creek Farm. Now the disappointment of no newly hatched ducklings.
The good news is, tomorrow is another day. The ducks will start to lay eggs again. The good news on the farm is that there is always beauty to be found. Some days you have to look a little harder for your encouragement.
(This story, with a much happier ending, was the basis for my latest book. Margarita and the Beautiful Gifts is available on Amazon and through the shop tab on this website.)
We had two ducks go broody this year and between the two of them they only hatched one duckling! Sorry it didn’t work out for you this year. 🙁 Maybe she will try again in the spring.
There is always next time. Or the incubator!
That’s too bad 🙁
Yes but life goes on. Momma duck is totally unfazed by it!
My female duck is sitting on eggs for the second time. She had a batch of 10 or more eggs in early spring and after a month they were all gone and the nest was destroyed. Now she’s back on eggs. This late in the season I don’t expect to see any ducklings. Next year I plan to buy an incubator.
Carol, it is weird how they kick out the eggs when they won’t hatch or what ever they know is wrong. Our ducks are laying a lot right now and already there are four more eggs in a nest. I watched this broody tonight as she arranged the eggs in the nest. I don’t know if she is ready to set again but it was interesting to watch her. – Janet
i have my newest ducks started going broody. 3 of the girls laying and now sitting in the same small nest. 20 eggs at the most. then started noticing they were broken and cracked. took them away. down to 10 eggs. embryo development. but all never passing 1 week. i keep replacing the eggs from another sister same thing. the girls Are 7 months. too young do you think?. i rekon them to stroppy teenagers trying to be adults. and cant look after house properly. any thaughts?. cheers craig. x
I caught this googling my question. We have common ducks that come and set their nests and eggs on our church property (almost by front door, LOL) every spring and we usually see the normal thing happen and off goes the happy family. But this time something’s off. She laid her eggs almost 8 weeks ago. One duckling hatched 2 weeks ago and hung out with mama but left or was taken. She remains on the full nest of eggs still every day except to leave here and there for a few minutes. I can see 2 eggs that have fully formed ducklings in them. What should we do? She doesn’t seem to be letting them go or they’re not going to hatch. Any ideas?
Walt the only suggestion I can think of is to candle the eggs using a very bright flashlight in a dark room. Look for the size of the air sac at one end of the egg. You should also be able to see some movement if there is life inside. This is quite unusual for the mother to stick with the nest so long. Would love to hear an update when you solve this puzzle – Janet
HI, Janet.
I have 4 broody Ducks all 1st time mothers, 1 egg hatched yesterday morning, so far it hasn’t been of the nest everytime duck gets of the nest it goes to the other duck gets under her, this morning another hatched out, I think there’s few more ready to hatch, would it be okay for me to take babies away feed them my self look after them, as I’m worried the Ducks are not showing the 1st one what to do, they just sit there then go eat Drink back on the nest, baby’s still stay on nest, hope you can help.
regards
Barbara
Really enjoyed your post – made me sad. I’m incubating my first batch of eggs and looks like 3/4 are not fertile after candling them on day 6. My ducks will not go broody after something started stealing her eggs the first go-round. Has anyone else heard that before a hen starts laying, she will cover the nest with straw?
I haven’t necessarily heard that. They do find a spot that is more secluded if they intend to brood. Only one of my duck hens goes broody. The rest practically drop the eggs as they walk around. Not a care in the world
Made a mistake on my post – meant to say “that before a hen starts SITTING (not laying)…
My duck hen (swedish blue breed) has laid 8 eggs in 8 days. I see her in and out of the house and when I clean the house it appears that she has buried her eggs under the bedding. My drake is protective of her and she of him. I am new at this duck egg thing. I really want to do what is right for my hen and drake and the eggs. She has a very hardy appetite. Any suggestions to help me know if she is broody? When do I candled the eggs? What do i do of there is no signs of an embryo? Thanks
I candle at 10 days and again at 15 IF no signs of development, then I take the eggs and toss them out or feed them to the pigs