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First Post Posted on: 03-16-13 11:33 AM next post first post
This year I am planning to hatch some ducks eggs naturally without using incubators, but using a broody hen. I am doing this for the first time, any suggestions? How do I know if a hen is broody? What are the best broody hens and can I make my hen go broody purposefully?
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Reply #: 1 Posted on: 03-18-13 06:14 AM next post previous post

I don't think you can make a hen go broody. If you don't have any broody hens, the best option would be to search for people who have broody hens. They can help you out. One of my friend had a broody hen that never left the nest for over 3 months. What he did was he kept duck eggs especially indian runner duck eggs as well as chicken eggs under this broody hen and they hatched.


Good luck with hatching!!!
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Reply #: 2 Posted on: 03-18-13 02:24 PM next post previous post
You can recognize the broody hens by their behavior. They sit firmly over the eggs, and when people approach or try to remove these eggs, they threaten the person by erecting their feathers, emitting a characteristic sound like clo-clo-clo and will peck aggressively. When broody, hens often temporarily cease eating or reduce their feed consumption. They even stop laying eggs. They stay in the nests most of the time, they get up only a couple of times a day, and that too to eat/drink and to relieve herself.  They also tend to puff out their feathers to look larger and also pull some feathers to keep their eggs warm.

Placing artificial eggs into nests encourages a hen to sit and go broody. Letting eggs accumulate in a darkened, well ventilated nesting box where other hens cannot disturb the hen stimulates her to become broody.

If you want to get your duck to go broody and sit on the eggs, then leave the eggs in the nest itself. But if you see that the hen is reluctant to sit on these eggs, use pot and plastic eggs to encourage her to sit. Eventually, she will never leave the nest at all. At this point, ensure that the nest is comfortable.  Make sure she has close access to food and water, so she doesn't have to move far since she is worried about leaving her eggs. Also, it is important to make sure that the duck leaves the nest everyday to stretch her legs, and eat/drink and possibly have a quick swim. When she returns to the nest, her damp body from her swim will help to keep the humidity levels correct.

Muscovy ducks are extremely broody. Silkies (a chicken breed) have extreme tendency to go broody. Wish you good luck. Let me know if you need any more help. I can share with you whatever I know on this topic.
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Reply #: 3 Posted on: 03-18-13 06:11 PM next post previous post
Wonderful tips... Thank you so much. By the way, once these eggs are hatched, will mom raise them?
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Reply #: 4 Posted on: 03-18-13 07:44 PM next post previous post
If you are letting a broody hen (chicken breed) to sit on duck eggs, then they will raise them for sure just like the best broody duck. But don't ever place chicken eggs under a broody duck. Mom would raise them till they are fully feathered.

Ducks and other waterfowl have an oil gland at the top of their tails, from which they spread oil around all their feathers.  Ducklings, however, are not born with a functional oil gland.  The mother duck will spread her own oil on her ducklings so that they can safely swim right away without getting waterlogged.  A chicken cannot do that, so don't let the ducklings swim until they are good at preening themselves, or else they might get chilled.

Hey I forgot to mention, if you are using silkie or any other chicken breed hen to hatch out duck eggs, make sure to mist the eggs to keep the humidity levels correct.
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Reply #: 5 Posted on: 03-18-13 08:00 PM last post previous post
Oh, I'm so much excited now... Thanks again for your wonderful tips.
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