2 females on 1 nest

Melba · **Joined:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:15 am **Posts:** 9

I have what is probably a stupid question but can 2 female ducks share the same nest. I have 2 muscovy females and they are both squashed in the nest together. They seem to get on ok and I have not seen them argue at all. What happen when the eggs hatch will 1 take the little ducklings or will they share?

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:20 pm

how many eggs are there all up ?

Roova · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:34 pm

There's a very good chance you'll have trouble. When they hear peeping their instincts will kick in and they'll probably end up fighting over babies.

I once had a hen and duck broody together at either end of a shed. One morning when checking them I found the mussie squashed in with an unhappy hen whose eggs had started hatching and one squashed chicken. Not good, and a lesson learnt.

I would either give all the eggs to one girl (if its a manageable number) and the eggs are all the same age, or separate the girls. Neither will be happy being moved so it might be a situation of putting a board or something between them and making sure they can't get to each other and moving them once you have ducklings. Its really not worth risking it because more than likely it won't end well if you leave them together.

Also, hopefully all the eggs were sat on at the same time so you don't have ducklings being hatched over the course of several days. You may find Mum will leave the nest with older ducklings and not be interested in sitting on unhatched eggs. You might want to have a backup plan in case this happens. Although having two broody ducks might be helpful in this regard. Good luck with the hatch, hopefully you have lots of fuzzies hatch safe and well.

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:51 pm

Roova wrote:

There's a very good chance you'll have trouble. When they hear peeping their instincts will kick in and they'll probably end up fighting over babies.

I once had a hen and duck broody together at either end of a shed. One morning when checking them I found the mussie squashed in with an unhappy hen whose eggs had started hatching and one squashed chicken. Not good, and a lesson learnt.

I would either give all the eggs to one girl (if its a manageable number) and the eggs are all the same age, or separate the girls. Neither will be happy being moved so it might be a situation of putting a board or something between them and making sure they can't get to each other and moving them once you have ducklings. Its really not worth risking it because more than likely it won't end well if you leave them together.

Also, hopefully all the eggs were sat on at the same time so you don't have ducklings being hatched over the course of several days. You may find Mum will leave the nest with older ducklings and not be interested in sitting on unhatched eggs. You might want to have a backup plan in case this happens. Although having two broody ducks might be helpful in this regard. Good luck with the hatch, hopefully you have lots of fuzzies hatch safe and well.

good advice roova,

if there were not to many eggs i would use 1 girl , or if possible like roova said separate them, with a board or fence ,

hope this helps

regards jase

mickt · **Joined:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:52 pm **Posts:** 51

hi melba,good info rover but i had 2 harliquins laying in one nest this year, a total of 32 egg and i thought theres no way possable but to my surprise 28 hatched (over 2 days though) but the four left i cracked to see what stage they were at and there was four different stages of develoment so the only thing i would be worried about by trying to seperate your ducks you might upset them and they might get up and walk away alltogeather so it might be worth letting them go they might work it out between them now there sitting :-D

Melba · **Joined:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:15 am **Posts:** 9

There is about 20 or so eggs but it’s hard to tell because there is soooo many feathers and they don't like me touching the eggs. I don't really have another cage suitable to split them up so I may have to just take one of them out with no eggs? It that ok to do? Will she fret too much? And the other dilemma is which one do I take out maybe I will take away the good mum and leave the bad one? Not really sure what to do? Thank you for helping me I do appreciate it

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:05 pm

another thought, is lke mickt said, the eggs may not hatch out at the same time,

if they were layed at different times ?

how long have they been sitting ? and if sitting you will need to watch witch girl hatches frst, once she is finished then move her and her ducklings , and leave the other girl still sitting,

hopefully it will all go okay for you mate ?

Melba · **Joined:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:15 am **Posts:** 9

They have both been there for about 2 weeks.

mickt · **Joined:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 8:52 pm **Posts:** 51

Melba if it were me i would let them sit if there been there for 2 weeks now i reacon they have worked it out no matter what happens as long as the eggs are fertile you will have some fuzzies running around at the end and as i said if you go trying to move one or putting somthing between them you might upset them and both could walk away early.

Roova · **Posted:** Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:19 pm

Just don't forget when they are sitting there is nothing to fight over. Ducklings hatching on the other hand might cause each of them to want the babies. But fingers crossed this is not the case for you and your girls.

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