23 ducklings in one clutch?!

[Miss Lydia]

I can see where they would present a problem thank goodness they don't eat ducklings like the great blue herons do. My Muscovy females love to catch my drake just lets stuff bounce right off his bill lol.
You do what you are doing if this is the only way to get mama something to eat.

 

[chris330r]

Here they come running when they see me come out back to pour some cockatiel seed. It's so adorable how they form that long line! And there's still 21 chicks!

Can you just imagine trying to name them all?!

 

[Canadian Wind]

ADORABLE!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww so sweet. That is one awesome mama

 

[chris330r]

Well this is interesting....Only one chick came to visit this morning! I don't know if I should be worried or proud that this little one is so independent. I'm hoping he just snuck away from the flock because he didn't want to fight his 20 brothers and sisters for breakfast.
I fed him seeds and stood guard so the white ibis didn't steal from him. Afterwards he went down to the water, took a drink and started swimming towards the park where Mama always goes after she leaves.
I'm hoping he went back to them afterwards and didn't lose them. Hopefully Mama and the bunch comes soon and he'll be reunited with the family.

 

[chris330r]

Mama was just here and I got happy but she was alone with the one chick and then KIller duck came and she flew away leaving the chick alone again. So I gather that Mama heard the lost chick and came over but couldn't stay away from the other 20 for long and went back to them.
Too bad she can't pick him by the neck like a cat and bring him back lol. Hopefully the rest are close by, but Mama seems to know she lost one but can't be at 2 places at once and the poor thing is too little to fly.

 

[chris330r]

Ok Mama came back to baby in the water and was trying to guide him back but she then flew across the lake and inside a little shady area at the bank on the other side. This is probably where the other 20 are.
I got a photo of the bank and you can see a little shady area in the middle of the photo where she went into. Baby chick is all the way on the other side of the pond swimming. Either he's too dumb to know where to go, or is just a very independent chick and wants to be on his own. I hope this turns out ok.
You can just make out baby in the middle of the photo in the water, and the second photo is the bank where Mama seems to have her nest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope there aren’t snapping turtles under that water.

 

[chris330r]

I hope there aren’t snapping turtles under that water.

Unfortunately there are lots of turtles in that water. I feed them sometimes and they all crowd around at the bank when I toss bread. Though I don't know if they're the snapping kind or gentle ones.
I've seen ducks jump and scurry away when they're nipped by them, but never seen one go under or eaten by them, so maybe they're not the snapping kind?

Mama came back twice to the little one and kept staring across the pond where the other 20 seemed to be and after a few minutes guarding the lost chick, she flew back over and the little one just stayed where he was.

Either he's really dumb, or very defiant and has no interest of rejoining the flock. Oh well...it's his funeral if he's picked off.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Stubborn little thing !!