[lisa123]

  my bantams went broody so i decided to put four duck eggs under them as i dont have a cockerel with my chooks. they have been sitting on them now for 15 dys, i know that duck eggs hatch between 20 and 25 days. do you recomend once and if hopefully they hatch that i take them away and rear them myslef or is it okay to leave them with the bantoms?  pls help ( have i done the right thing)

[Tania]

Hi Lisa,
My silkies have successfully sat on 3 Indian Runner duck eggs very recently. Incubation period is 28 days. I see little reason in moving the ducklings once they hatch as your bantams should play mum just as my silkies have done. It seems very unfair to allow a hen to sit on an egg for all that time only to remove the duckling once it has hatched. On top of which, it will give you a load of work to do teaching it to feed etc. Let nature take its course and you will hopefully be well rewarded.

[joyfull]

hens make good mums for ducklings although they do get a bit puzzled when their little ones keep wanting to take a bath 

[lisa123]

thanks for your comments and advice i will leave them with the bantams then. again thanks lisa