New to muscovys, how to encourage broodiness

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:40 pm

well, Muscovy Jase

that's a pretty good reference

ColinPerth · **Joined:** Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:11 pm **Posts:** 2

My muscovy hens sits at the drop of a hat I have had a hens sit on 41 eggs but only hatched 26. She covered the whole lot when she was sitting and what a sight she was almost flattened out to cover them

I should have taken a picture

ILoveMyMuscovy's · **Joined:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:14 am **Posts:** 5

I leave all the eggs in the nest and that seems to speed up the process. Mine will lay about 10 eggs before she sits tight

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:41 pm

thanks for everyone's replies and comments.... I have now tried both ways; leaving the eggs insitu, and also taking the eggs (leaving just 3-4 marked eggs)...both ways seem to work effectively.....

lawtons_backyarders · **Joined:** Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:39 pm **Posts:** 2

I leave the eggs to set a hen and takeaway to increase egg production but my interests are focused of egg production for net profit if you breed for home use then let them build

rusticular · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:51 pm

Hi Julie,
a word on bales, had them in my duck pen once, then I found rats nesting in them, so if there are rats or mice near (they come from the creek near our place), I would keep the area clear.
regards
Russell

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:05 pm

yes, I agree about bales of hay/straw etc, a haven for rodents......and then the snakes that feed on them :shock:

drayllor · **Joined:** Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:36 pm **Posts:** 85

You make a very good & valid point Russell, but I was asked for suggestions on how to make a good, cheap duck pen & that was one option I put forward. I don't dispute that bales of hay will make a good nesting site for mice & rats, but they are cheap & quick to assemble into some form of shelter, & they can be moved to a fresh position as needed. By all means, the use of something more permanent made of iron or similar would be the preferable option but probably not as cheap & quick as the former.

Ultimately, hay or no hay, mice will still set up home in poultry quarters of most kinds. Prevention/elimination through some form of control would be good practice regardless of your choice of housing.

Cheers

rusticular · **Posted:** Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:36 am

Hi Ross,
I made the choice of bales for those reasons, I agree it's a cheap and affective route, I was just surprised at how fast they moved into an area I thought I had rat proofed [smilie=a_doh.gif]

. And you are right about them setting up home, they dug runs under the wire netting I buried along the wall, and just rolled the duck's eggs into their little tunnel of love. Now I know why some people keep terriers as ratters.
regards
Russell

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