23 ducklings in one clutch?!

[chris330r]

Just wanted to share an update. Mama still has over 20 ducklings! They love to run about the grass trying to catch flies lol. It's so cute. I've said before that this Mama is such a great parent and she knows how to keep all the predators away but I didn't think she'd still have this many with her!
I'm afraid they're all going to reach adulthood...I just hope they fly to far off lands at that point because I can't afford to feed them all! Here's a pic I just took with them all in the shot. When they get closer they scatter to catch the flies on the seeds I throw out for them. I zoomed in this pic and counted 22.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How are the neighbors so may people hate Muscovy. I just don’t understand why

 

[chris330r]

How are the neighbors so may people hate Muscovy. I just don’t understand why

Many neighbors are pet owners here so lots of animal lovers which is probably why the ducks have made this pond their home. I've thankfully never seen anyone act like they hate them.
In fact, i'm the only one that shoos one of them away...and that's the killer duck. He comes around with the mate he stole from the King duck that he killed last month. I'll feed her, but when he gets too close, I get the broom out and he knows it's time to run lol. After what he did, I just don't want to feed him anymore because I really loved that King duck.
Maybe one of these baby Drakes will grow up and do the same to him and give him his karma.

 

[chris330r]

Just an update if anyone's interested. It's 9 days from my last post and Grandma duck has 21 ducklings! Only one in 9 days has been picked off and they're growing so fast! I didn't take a pic today but will try and get one tomorrow. She looks so funny leading all these chicks with her and looks proud of her large brood.

Some days she doesn't come around if it's really hot out. When she's here they all sit under this large bush where they have shade from the sun and are safe from predators. This duck is so good at parenting....to still have over 20 chicks with her after nearly a month is incredible.

Last week a brown mallard duck had a few newly hatched chicks with her, and this week I noticed one of Grandma's chicks look awfully small next to the others....so I wonder if one of her chicks decided to blend in with them. She stays in the back of the others and falls behind but manages to keep up. Either she's the Mallard's chick or just the runt of Grandma's litter.

When they all see me come out with seeds they all run towards me quickly like happy little children. Its so cute.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for updating. She sure sounds like an awesome mama duck to have kept all those kids in line and safe! Look forward to the pictures.

 

[Canadian Wind]

AND for stealing away a mallard duckling!

 

[chris330r]

Thanks for updating. She sure sounds like an awesome mama duck to have kept all those kids in line and safe! Look forward to the pictures.

She's the best Mama duck i've ever seen and must really love her job being a parent. I believe she's 7 years old now and has had so many broods over the years and is always very fiercely protective of them from other ducks as well as from predators. She sure takes her job seriously and I love her.

She came around a little while ago with the children. I threw some seeds out and managed to get them all in the same shot along with proud Mama (& Grandma). Here they are! Still 21 babies!

 

[casportpony]

She's the best Mama duck i've ever seen and must really love her job being a parent. I believe she's 7 years old now and has had so many broods over the years and is always very fiercely protective of them from other ducks as well as from predators. She sure takes her job seriously and I love her.

She came around a little while ago with the children. I threw some seeds out and managed to get them all in the same shot along with proud Mama (& Grandma). Here they are! Still 21 babies!

That's amazing!

 

[chris330r]

AND for stealing away a mallard duckling!

I can't pick the little one out in the photo I took today but there's still 21 like yesterday so she must in there somewhere. She's so small compared to the others that she has to be that Mallard's or perhaps she hatched last? If I can get a photo with her away from the others i'll try and capture her.
But yeah, this Mama wants everyone's brood all to herself. I guess she knows she's a better Mama than all the others and can raise them best.

FYI, the other Mama of these 2 broods hasn't come back. Either Mama chased her away for good, or she just threw up her wings, waddled away and said "Screw it, let her have those ungrateful little brats! Who needs em?!"

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is amazing and from here they all just about look alike.