How many ducks sit on eggs
When planning to breed ducks, beginners need to find out how many days a duck sits on eggs and for what reason the birds refuse to hatch chicks. You should also understand the reasons for the termination or decrease in egg production and how to place incubation material under the bird.
How many days does a duck sit on eggs
The problems of breeding ducks depend on a number of reasons, starting from the breed of bird, and ending with the conditions of detention and the diet of the duck, so before you get down to business, you need to carefully study all the nuances.
Features of egg production of ducks
Ducks are much less productive than chickens, but their eggs are larger and contain more fat, which increases the risk of overheating. Ducks lay their first eggs at the age of 4-5 months. This process is influenced by a number of factors:
- breed of ducks;
- quality of food;
- conditions of detention;
- competent lighting.
How many days a duck will sit in the clutch before the first duck appears also depends on these factors, but on average, the brooding process takes about a month.
Ducks lay no more than 1 egg per day, so the nest is filled within 2-3 weeks, and ducklings hatch almost simultaneously - within 3 days. As chicks emerge, they should be removed from the brood hen so as not to distract her from the rest of the eggs. The ducklings should be placed in a dry, clean and warm place, and after the last baby has hatched, they should be moved back to the nest.
In order for a brooding duck to feel comfortable, you should not bother and frighten her: at this time, the birds are especially irritable. You also need to protect the expectant mother from the direct sun. If the brood hen feels danger or inconvenience, then she can abandon the nest, and next time the duck will be ready to sit on eggs only next year.
Preparing to hatch eggs
The process of breeding ducks requires some preparation:
- The hen must be at least six months old.
- The nest is prepared in advance, covered with a thick layer of litter, on which an artificial duck egg is placed.
- The prepared nest is installed in a quiet corner, providing unhindered access to water and food.
- The daylight hours are gradually increased to 16 hours. Artificial lighting is used if necessary.
- The daily feed rate increases, which needs to be enriched with vitamin supplements.
- Not far from the nest, a container with ash is installed, which helps the ducks to fight off parasites.
- While egg-laying lasts, duck eggs should be stored in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 12 ° C.
- A bird that is ready for incubation should be seated in the nest in the evening so that it is fully accustomed by morning.
When the hen calms down and stops getting up from the nest, you can lay the selected eggs. This should be done in the dark so as not to disturb the duck.
Egg selection rules
To achieve maximum results, you need to lay high-quality eggs under the hen, which have been stored outside the refrigerator for no more than 10 days. Experienced breeders advise taking fresh samples within a week, and carefully inspecting them for defects and contamination before laying in the nest. Also, the eggs must be the same size.
How many eggs to put under the bird depends on several factors:
- Weft size. If the bird is small, then you can put from 8 to 12 pieces, under the medium - from 12 to 20, and under the large, in the second year of life - up to 25 copies.
- Eggs should be placed in one row. It is necessary to ensure that the feathers completely cover the masonry, the excess is taken away.
How to choose a hen
The expectant mother is easily recognizable by her behavior: she is constantly looking for a secluded place and covers the bottom of the nest with fluff.
If the brood hen itself perches on the nest and does not get up, then after three days it must be carefully planted with water and food. Repeat the procedure if necessary. If the duck does not leave the clutch for a long time, then after 45 minutes it should be returned to its place.
Domestic ducks do not always hatch chicks willingly. In this case, the maternal instinct should be awakened in them. For this, a little down of the selected individual and several test eggs are laid in the nest. The nest with a brood hen is securely closed for several days, allowing it to occasionally leave the clutch for food and drink. When she begins to return on her own, you can lay the rest of the eggs.
The process of hatching ducklings
Domestic ducks are excellent mothers, so do not interfere with the incubation process. The duck will do everything necessary. The main thing is to provide the expectant mother with fresh food and drink, as well as provide water for bathing. The duck dampened with feathers regulates the temperature in the masonry.
From 29-30 days of incubation, you need to check the nest daily, pick up the hatched chicks and remove the remains of the shell. Inspection should be carried out at night. The ducklings that hatch first will grow stronger and more resilient. The latter will be weaker.
If several ducklings have hatched, but the incubation material still remains, then it needs to be checked. To do this, the eggs "listen": if a rustling is heard, then the ducklings are alive and will soon appear, and if they quickly cool in their hands and are "dumb", then the chicks froze.
On the second day after birth, ducklings begin to drink warm boiled water, dipping it into a container with a beak. At the same time, they begin to introduce the first feed in the form of millet with boiled chopped eggs. On the third day, finely chopped greens are added to the diet.
After all the chicks are born, they are returned to their mother, who provides them with the necessary care and protection.
The owner is required to provide good living conditions and organize free walking.
How many days do different breeds of ducks hatch chicks?
How long a duck hatches eggs depends a lot on the breed. On average, the process takes from 28 to 32 days. For example, the first Peking duckling will hatch on 26-30 days, and the musky duck - on 31-36 days.
Peking ducks do not sit well on the clutch, so they use an incubator for reproduction or lay their eggs under ducks of another breed, chickens or turkeys.
How many muscovy ducks sit
Indo-ducks hatch 12-20 eggs for 31-36 days. Birds land at the place of laying in late March-early April. In the first days, the birds practically do not leave the clutch. Only under such conditions does the development of the embryo of a duckling proceed correctly. During this period, it is important to provide the future mother with food, drink and water for bathing, placing everything closer to the nest. The peculiarity of such hens is that they subtly feel when a duckling freezes in an egg and themselves push it out of the clutch. And they will not leave the sitting until the last chick is born.
Mulard
These ducks are often bred in the household. The breed appeared as a result of crossing the Indo-female and the Peking breed. The incubation material is collected for no more than one week.The hens are not large in size, so no more than a dozen eggs are placed in one nest.
Such ducks sit for about a month. They are distinguished by good maternal instinct and caring for the offspring. Moreover, they hatch not only their eggs, but also the products of other breeds, as well as chicken and turkey.
Peking ducks
"Peking girls" hatch the clutch least of all. The first duckling may appear on the 26th day, and the last - on the 29th. Up to 25 eggs can be laid under such a bird, but it does not have a developed maternal instinct, therefore other poultry often incubates such cubs.
Difficulty breeding ducks
When breeding ducks, a number of difficulties arise:
- Why is there not a single duckling after the hatching time. There may be several reasons: either the incubation material was of poor quality, or the duck did not manage to hatch the clutch correctly. Eggs should be laid again under this hen only next year to allow the body to recover.
- How long eggs can be stored without a brood. It depends on how well the duck covered and warmed the masonry before leaving. The second factor is weather. If the season is hot, it slows down the egg cooling process. But it is undesirable for the incubation material to be without a brood for more than 1.5 hours.
- Why ducks refuse to sit on their eggs. It depends on the development of the maternal instinct of an individual and the vagaries of nature. Sometimes the owner himself discourages the hen from hatching a duckling (by improper care and feeding). Also, to awaken the maternal instinct, it is necessary to leave at least one egg in the nest where a potential hen is laying.
- When the bird is ready to sit on the clutch. Firstly, only after she has laid at least one egg. Secondly, it all depends on the breed and individuality of the individual.
Experienced breeders recommend not to brood young birds. The most suitable individuals for these purposes are in the second year of life and older.
Now you know how many ducks sit on eggs, how this process goes and what its success depends on.