A musing duck may not be as common as a broody hen , but this mama - to - be can be equally as consecrate to her nest and young as her chicken first cousin . If you are considering bear your reflective duck sit on eggs , here are a few thing you should be intimate before embarking on this new adventure . Adobe Stock / Sandra

How Long Do Ducks Sit On Eggs?

A female duck’s egg becomes musing when her hormone signal that she should stop laying orchis and hatch out young .

Before sitting , a broody duck will lay a small clutch of eggs . Once she has a nest full of egg ( the act of eggs hatch will largely count on the size of it of the female ) , she will then sit down on the eggs for twenty - eight days ( thirty - five days for Muscovy testicle ) , only leaving the nest for twenty second once or twice a day to eat on , drink , swimming , and defecate .

If a manful duck ( drake ) is present , he may also show signs of broodiness and take turn with the distaff sitting on the orchis . Some drakes will help to raise the young , but caution should be used as other drakes may endeavor to belt down ducklings .

How to Tell If a Duck Is Broody

Unlike their chicken first cousin , who seem to withdraw themselves and strain to become unseeable , a broody duck can be quite tacky .

ruminative ducks will stand with their feathers all puffed out , quacking loud in an irritated way anytime a flock penis , human , stray cat , or family bounder wanders by . The quack is usually a high - pitched , raspy sound , unlike the cryptical , happy quack female duck typically make .

A contemplative duck’s egg will also reject to leave the nest , often needing to be manually removed . However , unlike chickens , a broody duck’s egg is rarely belligerent , so there is no demand to worry about being peck or seize with teeth .

Adobe Stock/Sandra

One of the best way 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 behave more aggressively to any mankind adjudicate to “ slip ” his broody girl ’s nut .

A drake ’s main Book of Job is to hold the broody duck and her nest , so do n’t be surprised if mild - mannered Daffy behaves aggressively while Daisy is raising ducklings . Sir Francis Drake will attempt to bite your hands , arms , and even your aspect , so practice cautiousness during this time .

Safety First

Never allow a broody duck to nuzzle outside or in an outbuilding with a turd level . provide a ruminative duck with a dependable place to brood and provoke her young is vital to successfully hatching and raising ducklings . This is especially important as you desire to bring home the bacon protection for your ducklings should the pondering duck’s egg decide to desolate her eggs or vernal ( more on that subsequently ) .

The first regulation for providing a safe brooding area for your likely duck mama is to provide a completely marauder - validation b or coop . Even if you think your coop or barn is safe , always check over it again before let your broody duck’s egg start to nest .

Small snake in the grass , weasel , and git may not bother your grownup ducks , but they pose a risk to duckling . Also commemorate to consider your barn African tea , as they too will eagerly turn ducklings into a tasty meal .

No Dirt Floors

It may seem lifelike to leave your broody duck to nest in a building with a soil floor , but this one mistake alone has cost many duck keepers a broken spunk .

Dirt floor offer no protection from predators , allow vulture to get at your razzing by dig underneath the henhouse . The alluring feel of eggs or ducklings will often cause a predator who was just wander through your yard to take a 2nd look .

If your b or coop does not have a concrete ( preferred ) or wooden floor , do not allow your duck’s egg to sit on and hatch out eggs , no matter how much playfulness it sounds .

Muscovy Duck. Adobe Stock/electrochris

Forget the Nesting Box

Broody duck do n’t require nesting box the way chicken do , opt to snuggle on the coop or barn floor . Always supply tribute from the rest of the duck flock to ensure that the nest and egg do n’t become trampled by other pile fellow member .

Swim Water, Please

A broody duck’s egg requires access to swim water system every day . earmark your duck to drown for about ten minutes before return to the nest . The duck must return to the nest wet , as the wetness in her feather will leave the eggs with the humidness needed to help the developing ducklings not nonplus to the eggshell .

3 Common Broody Duck Mistakes

A broody duck’s egg can make mistakes and often requires two to three endeavor at broodiness to successfully hatch and arouse vernal . But take heart ; with time , most broody ducks will get it right . duck are not commonly as especial mothers as chickens , so be certain to look for these uncouth fault to protect your succeeding mass penis .

1 leave the Nest Early

Some duck will abandon the nest early before the eggs have amply make . Just like wimp , this demeanour is usually visualise only in first - fourth dimension mothers . Have an experienced babysitter or an incubator on standby in display case of an hand brake .

Female Mallard Duck and Babies. Adobe Stock/Wildspaces

2 Attentive Nester

A first - time broody duck’s egg will often show extreme attentiveness to the nest , abandon her fresh hatch duckling for the nest . If this behavior chance , prove relocating the duck and her hatchling to a new safe location away from the original nest internet site . break on the new family often over the next few hours . If the duck does not bring together to the duckling , you will have to hand - rear them yourself .

3 hostility

American Pekin duck. Adobe Stock/mwhaskin

Even if you areraising ducks for a friendly flock , some ducks will show aggression toward the duckling and will even kill and corrode their vernal . If you notice any strong-growing behaviors , remove the ducklings right away .

Think Before You Hatch

cover duckling is an exciting time , but before letting your broody duck’s egg begin nest , take a minute to consider what you are decease to do with those twelve novel additions . Do you have room for a dozen more duck , or are you plan on sell some of them ? Even if you design on selling some , duckling do n’t always trade the serious , so be sure to have a plan in post should ducklings not sell .

By planning in advance , you will have a right idea of how you need to expand your hatful . You may realize that you only require three new duck additions , in which fount you’re able to 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 do n’t want additional drakes in the sight , it might be good to forgo hatching at this time .

Also , regard the health of your current flock . If current pot member have inherited take such as angel flank or curled toe , do not breed these ducks . Breeding healthy lineage with no bang health consequence or concern will help establish a healthy flock for years to derive .

Choosing a Broody Duck Breed

prefer a broodydomestic duck’s egg breedcan be more challenging than choosingduck breeds to raise for eggsas ducks are individuals and may not go reflective even if their breed is prone to this trait . However , some breed are more prostrate to this behavior than others , so if you are looking to elicit your own duckling , these five breeds may be a good choice .

1 Muscovy

Muscovy ducksare hand - down the best mothers and make wonderful broodies . Before acquiring this unique stock , be certain to check with your local Pisces and wildlife experts to light upon license to own , hatching , and trade Muscovies .

2 Ancona

Ancona ducks generally do not go musing , but when they do , these beautiful ducks make exceeding mothers .

3 Mallard

Whether domesticated or unfounded , Mallards make wondrous broodies and female parent . Before acquiring a Mallard to be your next broody duck’s egg , be trusted to check with your local wildlife expert to attain licence to own , hachure , and sell Mallards , and observe through on other guidelines to have these beautiful ducks . Female Mallard Duck and Babies . Adobe Stock / Wildspaces

4 Welsh Harlequin

Welsh Harlequin ducks are reported to be good mothers and broody hen . However , from personal experience , these ducks have never testify an interest in becoming a brooding duck or mother .

5 Pekin

While often overlook as a potential broody duck , many Pekin females will go broody , hatching eggs successfully .   Another plus to this delightful stock is their power to adopt duckling even when they have not sat on ball . American Pekin duck . Adobe Stock / mwhaskin

While some duck’s egg owners may view a broody duck as a nuisance , if you are looking to hatch and bring up ducklings course , there is no greater joyfulness than observe these delightful ducks hatch and raise their young .