I'm just saying... *sighs*
When Robert got home tonight, Petunia Goose was in nest 3, tail sticking out from under the quarter barrel enclosure, the one with many eggs and no one on it all day (no idea who's been taking care of it and covering eggs up at night). Happy mama goose noises, but that's not her nest. Not her side of the barn. So, I cleaned out the goose side (it was wetter than I'd realized and needed a clean out), and I found only one goose egg. I also found two muscovy eggs. *sighs again* So weird. Anyway, I got it all set up just like nest 3 that she seemed to like, so we'll see if she accepts that and makes it her nest or not. No idea if we will get any goslings this year at all because of her trying to make nests outside and now in the duck side and who knows where. While I was messing with it all, I realized Squeaker Mama and Khaki Mama were off their shared nest. Again. That was odd, since they usually take turns. So, I looked in, and there were only three eggs. Three. They'd had over a dozen in there, and we've even given them eggs lately. I had Robert take a look, too, and he felt all around--no eggs to be seen anywhere in or under the nest. The nest is perfectly made, too. One of the three doesn't look like it's developing, so that's gross, but we left it in there, for them to deal with. I then moved the ice cold eggs (didn't candle due to no flashlight but should have) from nest three over there, and when the ducks went in for the night, Khaki Mama went running over and sat right down without even looking at them. We were supposed to have ducklings by this week--they've been on that nest for a month. No ducklings. *Bigger sigh* In muscovy news, Gracie Mama is barely getting off her nest at all and is being just a wonderful mama. She's a proven mama, so we're hoping at least some of her 30 eggs hatch. Raven is yipping more just like Gracie did right before she started setting, so we're hoping that means Raven will be staying on her nest soon. There sure are enough eggs in it. Also, one of the muscovy gals is trying to start a nest in the walkway in the barn. On the cement. I'm thinking it's Pigeon since she was trying to make a nest earlier in front of the barn door. She's adorable but apparently not the brightest at being a mama. *facepalm and sigh* I think it was Dove who had two eggs next to the goose nest because I had to chase her out of there this morning when I was doing water. Thank goodness Robert thought to grab the incubator on sale at Rural King last weekend. It really might be the only way we get ducklings this year when here we were hoping to get many for meat birds and to sell.
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If my figuring is right, we should be getting ducklings from Squeaker Mama and Khaki Mama any day now. Petunia Goose is finally staying on her nest, so we might get a gosling or two in a month, but only Gracie Mama is the other duck staying on her nest. Raven was seen on the bike nest, and Broody Judy sure seems set on hers, but both of them have been out and about pretty much all day these days. Same with Mango, but her nest is still in the process of getting built up, so she's not ready to start setting yet.
I'm trying to be patient. I'm just so excited for ducklings! |
Our FlockWe have Sebastopol geese, Embden geese, Muscovies, Pekins, Rouens, Cayugas, a Runner duck and her Pekin/Runner daughter, and Khaki Campbell ducks. These are their adventures. ArchivesCategories |