And they said it couldn't be done

[Layke]

My Indian Runner for the fourth time hatched ducklings. The first three batches were taken by predators. She got smarter and we got smarter and here we have seven 1 month old Indian Runner Ducklings. Born on the 4th of July. We suspect our Red Eared Turtles were grabbing them at first and re homed two of them. My husband built a small dock out in the middle of the pond and sure enough mom and the ducks found there way onto it and that is where they slept at night in the middle of the pond. Then my husband installed lights pointing to the sky to scare away the owls. And here they are almost as big as mom.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Glad for you and the ducks that the problem is solved.

 

[OneEggToRuleThemAll]

Very cool! I raise runners and love them...had no idea they could go broody! Good to know--thanks for sharing. And good luck with your beautiful ducks!

 

[Layke]

Very cool! I raise runners and love them...had no idea they could go broody! Good to know--thanks for sharing. And good luck with your beautiful ducks!

We were told it is very difficult to hatch Indian Runners in captivity but we have one female that has sat on eggs every spring. Unfortunately we also have predictors that either have eaten the eggs before they had a chance or killed the babies once they were born. Fortunately, all of use, the duck and us have gotten smarter and finally figured out a way to ward off the predators. We also have a very large body of water on our property that has turned into a mini riparian preserve with lilies and reeds on the edges. This particular duck discovered she could sit on a nest in the middle of the reeds. She is a dedicated momma.