Cross & In Two Minds.....What to do?

[julesapple]

Let me start by saying that, out of ten girls, four are broody. Two of the four, Daisy & Shirley, are deadly serious in a feather-rousing, visciously-pecking kind of way.

So, this morning, I came down to let the girls out, not quite awake and well before my caffeine intake. I am startled to see that two of our three nest-boxes (which are big rabbit/pet houses) have disappeared. What? Why?

I let the girls out of the big henhouse, including the two not-so-serious broodies, and wander off around the garden to find any sign of intruders etc, leaving pre-school/Uni/college/work chaos behind me in the house. There they are...by the apple trees.....but why are they there??

I open the doors to both and immediately get hissed at by Daisy and fingers almost pecked by Shirley. Lifting them out one at a time, to have breakfast and do some ablutions, I see that each is sitting on 6 warm, fat, eggs. We were not hatching any eggs this summer. That was the plan. Budgets and time restrictions did not allow it. We didn't want the cockerel problems again.

Returning to the mess that had been my kitchen sans famile, I find a note from a rapidly departed DD, saying that she bought the eggs and that Day 21 is on my birthday (next month) "Happy Birthday Mum!"

So, what to do? I have 12 eggs - Splash Copper & Copper Blue Marans apparently - that I really don't want, although I am touched by the thought, but I cannot bring myself to leave them to die or go to waste. I suspect the cunning DD was banking on this. If I re-state the we-are-not-hatching-any-eggs reasons, the family will immediately go down the route of 'that's very mean and ungracious - they were a present' and I will go into mother-mode guilt trips.

Two caffeine shots later, I am beginning to feel abused but, I still cannot bring myself to remove the eggs from the girls.

What would you do?

Jules

[shirlthegirl43]

I actually think that is a wonderful gift and I would definately keep them. I would love it if my lot thought of that!

[julesapple]

I took my coffee out to the garden and had a look at these eggs. None of them are dark brown, so not Marans by any means. And one set look suspiciously like duck eggs to me - they have a different shape and feel slightly waxy. The other set are just buff in colour. I've no idea where the DD got these eggs, but she was having a conversation on FB about hatching duck eggs for a friend earlier in the year. Will chickens hatch ducklings? I don't want ducks, I really don't want ducks. My pond is in the 'our garden' bit of the garden and I've only just redesigned it...it's mine, for me...not wrecking ducks!

Jules

[shirlthegirl43]

Yes chickens will hatch ducks - it is funny when you start teaching the ducklings to swim. You can always rehome ducks or chooks you don't want afterwards can't you

[rustylady]

Oh Jules, I do feel for you. Children don't always get it right, do they Now you've got them and your girls are sitting on them I don't think you have any option but to let Nature take it's course.

[Hilary B]

I think "thank you very much, but ducks and cockerels MUST GO as soon as they are big enough" is about the best you can do (and stick to it). If ducklings hatch, start talking about 'duck a l'orange' from day 1!

[julesapple]

Name the Egg Type....



Hope the photo works. This is one of the six mystery eggs; it's quite large, although my hands are small, and it is silky smooth. I've never felt quite such a smooth egg before.

Any ideas?

Jules

[Nicos]

Hmm- never had ducks- but my gut feeling is that is a duck egg.


...well- it could be worse- it could have been a peacock egg!


I'd just go with it too and hatch all the eggs and see what happens - life's an adventure- go with it

I found this...

QUOTE ..."So how do duck eggs differ from chicken eggs? They are much larger, almost filling the palm of your hand. The texture of the egg shells also is silky smooth, so smooth, in fact, that if I were an artist, I’d want to try painting them. Crack open an egg, and you find the shell is tough, requiring two smacks on the side of the bowl. Duck egg yokes also are larger than chicken eggs and a deep, orange color."

[julesapple]

If they're duck eggs then a) Someone is telling me porkies (DD!) and b) they can go in the 'bator. If the option is A, I do have a Plan B......I'll just exchange them for chicken eggs that I'll buy myself. I won't say anything and then, if it is option A, there'll be someone who's hugely surprised........and it won't be me!!

Jules

[julesapple]

Right! Plan B it is......'bator is cleaned, switched on, warming up in the walk in wardrobe (Sshhh.....) and I've been on the phone and there are six Copper Blue/Splash Marans eggs on express delivery for tomorrow. I'll swap the eggs on Friday morning when DD is at Uni.

I'm going to be press-ganged into hatching, then we'll do it my way.

Jules

[Nicos]

Excellent!!!

[RichmondHens]

I took my coffee out to the garden and had a look at these eggs. None of them are dark brown, so not Marans by any means. And one set look suspiciously like duck eggs to me - they have a different shape and feel slightly waxy. The other set are just buff in colour. I've no idea where the DD got these eggs, but she was having a conversation on FB about hatching duck eggs for a friend earlier in the year. Will chickens hatch ducklings? I don't want ducks, I really don't want ducks. My pond is in the 'our garden' bit of the garden and I've only just redesigned it...it's mine, for me...not wrecking ducks!

Jules

I think one set is very likely duck eggs going from your description. The other may well be Marans. Marans can lay paler eggs, it is dependent on strain. Like Welsummers, it tends to be the ones who lay less often who can produce the very dark brown shell, the better layers lay paler eggs. I have tried for ages to produce a strain of Welsummer that lays well AND lays dark eggs - very difficult! I spoke to a breeder who had been doing the same with his Marans, similar result. So don't assume just because they are paler eggs that they are not Marans. The proof will be when they hatch.

It was a lovely surprise but not very well thought out. Don't beat your daughter up about it. Just be sure to have a plan for all the hatchlings well in advance. If I were closer to you I'd help you out.

Good luck!

PS: You can always shake a few up to ensure they don't hatch ..........

[julesapple]

Don't beat your daughter up about it. Good luck!

PS: You can always shake a few up to ensure they don't hatch ..........

The DD is doing Animal Management. This plan is very cunning. She knew what she was about. She knows full well that I cannot resist. She also knows that we aren't going away this summer, so can be here to watch (and enjoy) chicks. According to the latest text she has no idea why we have duck eggs because she only sent for six chicken eggs from ebay. The chicken eggs were actually listed as Marans but the details do say hybrids x marans, so it's anyone's guess what's in them....and I do think it'll be fun to find out. The duck eggs concern me hugely, but DD says she can get a home for the hatchlings as soon as they hatch. The logistics of all this will drive me insane - trying to keep two broodies quiet and peaceful, eight others needing nest boxes, a harris hawk needing the garden being taken up with mummies and babies.........*huge sigh* book me in for a relaxing breakdown now......


And just to add to the mixture, a texted confession of six Serama eggs arriving tomorrow too. They cannot go into the 'bator with duck eggs because Serama littlies will drown in the humidity needed for duck eggs.

I did think about shaking the eggs, and I went down to the broody coops with intent, but no, I cannot do it. I just can't. Sometimes I think I should've been a Bhuddist.

Jules

[rustylady]

I did think about shaking the eggs, and I went down to the broody coops with intent, but no, I cannot do it. I just can't. Sometimes I think I should've been a Bhuddist.

Jules

I'm with you on that one Jules.

[Glutton4...]

Keep the eggs - have the kids adopted!