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Do Adoptive Mama Ducks stay attached forever?

post #1 of 3
6/22/12 at 9:57am
Thread Starter 

We had 2 muscovies sitting on empty nests so we stuck a few khaki eggs under them and each one hatched out three. When one mama went to take a bath somehow her 3 ducklings got attached to the other mama and now she is sitting with all 6 under her. The first mama came back looking for them and I felt bad so I stuck 2 eggs in her nest and she started sitting on them.

Does the second mama know/think all 6 are hers? When will she "let them go"? I feel terrible taking them from her but is that OK to do and at what point? We really don't want to keep all 6 khakis. And can she count?? What if I took 3?

Thanks!

Melissa - 8 pekins, 5 pekin/swedish, 6 swedish, 9 khakis, 9 golden layers, 5 runners, 1 crested, 1 magpie, 1 cayuga, 2 muscovies, 5 mallards, 3 chinese geese, 4 silver laced wyandottes, 2 golden laced wyandottes, 3 cuckoo marans, 2 white orpingtons, 3 rhode island reds, 1 black orpington, 5 alpacas, 3 Nigerian dwarf does, 1 black lab, 1 cat. And 2 kids!

 

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Melissa - 8 pekins, 5 pekin/swedish, 6 swedish, 9 khakis, 9 golden layers, 5 runners, 1 crested, 1 magpie, 1 cayuga, 2 muscovies, 5 mallards, 3 chinese geese, 4 silver laced wyandottes, 2 golden laced wyandottes, 3 cuckoo marans, 2 white orpingtons, 3 rhode island reds, 1 black orpington, 5 alpacas, 3 Nigerian dwarf does, 1 black lab, 1 cat. And 2 kids!

 

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post #2 of 3
6/22/12 at 2:32pm

I think they do notice, and grieve for a while, and move on.  But that is based on what I have heard from others.  Hope they will weigh in here.

Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

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Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

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post #3 of 3
6/23/12 at 6:17am

She would be mad if you took 3, but I think she would adjust.   My duck lost two of her ducklings, and was sad for an hour, but seemed to adjust to having only one then.  
 

EE, Buff Orp, Jersey Giant, White Silkie, Barred Rock, Dominique, Cuckoo Maran, Welsummer and Cochin chickens,  9 Welsh Harlequin ducks, 2 Rouen ducks,  9 American Buff geese, one patient husband, 4 children of assorted ages from 5 - 15
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EE, Buff Orp, Jersey Giant, White Silkie, Barred Rock, Dominique, Cuckoo Maran, Welsummer and Cochin chickens,  9 Welsh Harlequin ducks, 2 Rouen ducks,  9 American Buff geese, one patient husband, 4 children of assorted ages from 5 - 15
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