What can I do to calm my broody duck?

Posted by Paula Ortiz on May 25, 2009 at 2:07pm
I have 3 Khaki Campbell ducks. One of them has become broody over the last week. My hens free range, but are fenced in a smaller portion of the yard at night. This is where they lay their eggs, so as soon as I noticed her not getting off her nest in the morning I chased her off and have been closing off this part of the yard during the day. Everyday she has become more insistent about wanting to lay on the nest and therefore not wanting to get off her nest, she puffs herself up and hisses. I'm not so concerned about that as I am her new, non-stop quacking. I'm afraid my neighbors are going to complain. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to help her get over her mommy desires?

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Replies

  • Paula Ortiz May 25, 2009 at 11:03pm
    Ok, I'll give it a try. I certainly can't have her quacking all day. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you for the suggestions.
    • Paula Ortiz > Paula Ortiz June 9, 2009 at 1:13pm
      She's still sitting... She is more intense about than ever. We have to chase her off the nest to take a 3 minute splash in her pool daily. She does drink water that is kept next to her nest (she doesn't have to get off her nest to drink.) Although, I don't believe she is eating. Should I continue to allow her to keep sitting?
  • Rachel May 25, 2009 at 5:02pm
    A khaki campbell will rarely stay broody long enough to hatch anything of her own. Why not just let her sit? It's pretty hard to convince a broody anything to get off the nest. I imagine she's quacking because she is upset about not being on her nest. Does she still do it if you leave her alone?
    • Paula Ortiz > Rachel May 25, 2009 at 6:10pm
      No, she is quiet when left to her nest. My concerns with leaving her to it are that there is about 4 hrs. of full sun where her nest is, and I fear she will succumb to the heat. My other thought is that if she is broody and nesting will it make my other ducks broody? Finally, I wonder how long she will commit herself to the cause. We are an all girl farm so no amount of sitting is going to create a baby.
    • Rachel > Paula Ortiz May 25, 2009 at 8:11pm
      I don't think she'll sit longer than a couple of weeks, if that. Her being broody will not make your other girls want to sit any more or less. I think your best bet is to put up something temporarily that will give her some shade and put water very close to her nest. Keep collecting the eggs if she's still laying them.
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