A broody duck may not be as common as a broody hen, but this mama-to-be can be equally as dedicated to her nest and young as her chicken cousins. If you are considering having your broody duck sit on eggs, here are a few things you should know before embarking on this new adventure.
How Long Do Ducks Sit On Eggs?
A female duck becomes broody when her hormones signal that she should stop laying eggs and hatch out young.
Before sitting, a broody duck will lay a small clutch of eggs. Once she has a nest full of eggs (the number of eggs hatched will largely depend on the size of the female), she will then sit on the eggs for twenty-eight days (thirty-five days for Muscovy eggs), only leaving the nest for twenty minutes once or twice a day to eat, drink, swim, and defecate.
If a male duck (drake) is present, he may also show signs of broodiness and take turns with the female sitting on the eggs. Some drakes will help to raise the young, but caution should be used as other drakes may try to kill ducklings.
How to Tell If a Duck Is Broody
Unlike their chicken cousins, who seem to withdraw themselves and try to become invisible, a broody duck can be quite loud.
Broody ducks will stand with their feathers all puffed out, quacking loudly in an irritated manner anytime a flock member, human, stray cat, or family dog wanders by. The quack is usually a high-pitched, raspy sound, unlike the deep, happy quack female ducks typically make.
A broody duck will also refuse to leave the nest, often needing to be manually removed. However, unlike chickens, a broody duck is rarely aggressive, so there is no need to worry about being pecked or bitten.
One of the best ways to tell if there is a broody duck in the flock is to watch the drake. A drake is tuned in to his ladies and will act more aggressively to any humans trying to “steal” his broody girl’s eggs.
A drake’s main job is to guard the broody duck and her nest, so don’t be surprised if mild-mannered Daffy behaves aggressively while Daisy is raising ducklings. Drakes will attempt to bite your hands, arms, and even your face, so use caution during this time.
Safety First
Never allow a broody duck to nest outside or in an outbuilding with a dirt floor. Providing a broody duck with a safe place to brood and raise her young is critical to successfully hatching and raising ducklings. This is especially important as you want to provide protection for your ducklings should the broody duck decide to abandon her eggs or young (more on that later).
The first rule for providing a safe brooding area for your potential duck mama is to provide a completely predator-proof barn or coop. Even if you think your coop or barn is safe, always check over it again before letting your broody duck begin to nest.
Small snakes, weasels, and rats may not bother your adult ducks, but they pose a risk to ducklings. Also remember to consider your barn cats, as they too will eagerly turn ducklings into a tasty meal.
No Dirt Floors
It may seem natural to allow your broody duck to nest in a building with a dirt floor, but this one mistake alone has cost many duck keepers a broken heart.
Dirt floors offer no protection from predators, allowing predators to access your birds by digging underneath the coop. The alluring smell of eggs or ducklings will often cause a predator who was just wandering through your yard to take a second look.
If your barn or coop does not have a concrete (preferred) or wooden floor, do not allow your duck to sit on and hatch out eggs, no matter how much fun it sounds.
Forget the Nesting Box
Broody ducks don’t require nesting boxes the way chickens do, preferring to nest on the coop or barn floor. Always provide protection from the rest of the duck flock to ensure that the nest and eggs don’t become trampled by other flock members.
Swim Water, Please
A broody duck requires access to swimming water every day. Allow your duck to swim for about ten minutes before returning to the nest. The duck must return to the nest wet, as the wetness in her feathers will provide the eggs with the humidity needed to help the developing ducklings not stick to the eggshell.
3 Common Broody Duck Mistakes
A broody duck can make mistakes and often requires two to three attempts at broodiness to successfully hatch and raise young. But take heart; with time, most broody ducks will get it right. Ducks are not usually as exceptional mothers as chickens, so be sure to look for these common mistakes to protect your future flock members.
#1 Leaving the Nest Early
Some ducks will abandon the nest early before the eggs have fully formed. Just like chickens, this behavior is usually seen only in first-time mothers. Have an experienced sitter or an incubator on standby in case of an emergency.
#2 Attentive Nester
A first-time broody duck will often show extreme attentiveness to the nest, abandoning her newly hatched ducklings for the nest. If this behavior happens, try relocating the duck and her hatchlings to a new safe location away from the original nest site. Check on the new family often over the next few hours. If the duck does not bond to the ducklings, you will have to hand-rear them yourself.
#3 Aggression
Even if you are raising ducks for a friendly flock, some ducks will show aggression toward the ducklings and will even kill and eat their young. If you notice any aggressive behaviors, remove the ducklings right away.
Think Before You Hatch
Hatching ducklings is an exciting time, but before letting your broody duck begin nesting, take a minute to consider what you are going to do with those twelve new additions. Do you have room for a dozen more ducks, or are you planning on selling some of them? Even if you plan on selling some, ducklings don’t always sell the best, so be sure to have a plan in place should ducklings not sell.
By planning in advance, you will have a better idea of how you want to expand your flock. You may realize that you only want three new duck additions, in which case you can remove some of your broody duck’s eggs and replace them with ceramic eggs. At least some of the eggs will be males, so if you don’t want additional drakes in the flock, it might be best to forgo hatching at this time.
Also, consider the health of your current flock. If current flock members have genetic issues such as angel wing or curled toes, do not breed these ducks. Breeding healthy stock with no known health issues or concerns will help establish a healthy flock for years to come.
Choosing a Broody Duck Breed
Choosing a broody domestic duck breed can be more challenging than choosing duck breeds to raise for eggs as ducks are individuals and may not go broody even if their breed is prone to this trait. However, some breeds are more prone to this behavior than others, so if you are looking to raise your own ducklings, these five breeds may be a good choice.
#1 Muscovy
Muscovy ducks are hands-down the best mothers and make wonderful broodies. Before acquiring this unique breed, be sure to check with your local fish and wildlife experts to attain permits to own, hatch, and sell Muscovies.
Follow through on other guidelines provided by wildlife officials for owning these ducks, as Muscovies are considered to be an evasive species.
#2 Ancona
Ancona ducks generally do not go broody, but when they do, these beautiful ducks make exceptional mothers.
#3 Mallard
Whether domestic or wild, Mallards make wonderful broodies and mothers. Before acquiring a Mallard to be your next broody duck, be sure to check with your local wildlife experts to attain permits to own, hatch, and sell Mallards, and follow through on other guidelines to owning these beautiful ducks.
#4 Welsh Harlequin
Welsh Harlequin ducks are reported to be good mothers and broodies. However, from personal experience, these ducks have never shown an interest in becoming a broody duck or mother.
#5 Pekin
While often overlooked as a potential broody duck, many Pekin females will go broody, hatching eggs successfully. Another plus to this delightful breed is their ability to adopt ducklings even when they have not sat on eggs.
While some duck owners may view a broody duck as a nuisance, if you are looking to hatch and raise ducklings naturally, there is no greater joy than watching these delightful ducks hatch and raise their young.
This story about broody ducks was written for Chickens magazine. Click here to subscribe.
