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White Campbell brooding!

(4 posts)
  • Started 4 years ago by campbell ridge
  • Latest reply from admin

  1. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    We have a trio of White Campbells and just recently one has been nesting, but both females seem to have been laying in the nest (two per day) rather than just dumping them anywhere in their house.
    She didn't seem to be brooding them too well at first so with 12 eggs in there we decided to candle them and put 6 back in that looked like they might be viable. Then one morning there appeared to be TWO perfect round nests, with 3 eggs in each! There is definitely only one female sitting, which she is doing diligently now. We have left her to it and she is back to the one nest. We have again candled the eggs and found that 5 of them are viable, so that is the number we have left her with.
    There is always another egg in the nest every morning which we remove, but we are still not sure who is laying this egg, as up til brooding, we have had two per day, now down to only one. Odd!

    They should be due to hatch the first week in June all being well.
    She comes off the nest first thing in the morning, middle of the day and evening for a drink, feed and bath.

    I will keep you updated of our progress.

    Sarah

    Sarah L
    Posted 4 years ago #
  2. Hi Sarah,
    Good to hear from you.I like the way ducks make real rounded nests piled high with straw. It is interesting and useful to hear how how often your duck comes off the nest and when she feeds and drinks. Do you leave food and drink near her at all times?
    I look forward to hearing about the progress of the eggs.
    Best Wishes
    Sara @ farmingfriends

    Posted 4 years ago #
  3. campbell ridge
    Administrator

    Hi Sara, thanks for your interest. Unfortunately our broody was disturbed yesterday by the unexpected arrival of a digger - workmen coming to repair our drive. Realising she would be upset again today, we moved the pen and house to a quieter spot, but she has not returned to the nest at all this morning and the eggs are cool. It's such a shame as we only had another 10 days to go and she was doing so well.
    I am at present wearing the eggs around my body during the day and putting them back in with her at night, in the unlikely event that she may settle on them again
    .
    Anyhow you asked for more details:, she was coming out approx 3 times a day. She liked to forage for bugs, eat her pellets and drink and bathe. She did it all at double speed too. The pellets are close by to their house but she always has a good run around the whole area. The other two were allowed begrudgingly into the house at night and she was hissing wildy if you went near the house.

    The key being is NOT to disturb/or frighten the broody duck.
    I will give it a couple of days and see if she gets her maternal instinct back.
    Fingers crossed.
    Regards.
    Sarah

    Sarah L
    Posted 4 years ago #
  4. Hi Sarah,
    So sorry to hear about your broody. Has she returned to the nest?

    I wonder whether you can continue incubating them as you are doing and if she won't take to them before the hatch then maybe you can get her to start sitting else where on some new eggs/pot eggs and then put the ducklings under her when they hatch?

    I hope she is sitting again.
    Kind regards
    Sara @ farmingfriends

    Posted 4 years ago #

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