Attention Muscovy lovers

[Alaskan]

My son (she loves my son) got her to stand up for a second, no babies at all yet.


It is five weeks....right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My son (she loves my son) got her to stand up for a second, no babies at all yet.


It is five weeks....right?

35-37 days.

 

[Alaskan]

BABIES!

I don't know how many yet....but super super super yeah!!!

 

[Alaskan]

Did I mention that I haven't ever actually hatched eggs by broody before?

Just wonderful! Of course, it helps my stress level immensely, that even though I am new to this, the duck is a seasoned pro!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did I mention that I haven't ever actually hatched eggs by broody before?

Just wonderful! Of course, it helps my stress level immensely, that even though I am new to this, the duck is a seasoned pro!

Congrats!! Just make sure she can keep the ducklings warm enough if your having cold temps like we are. Some mamas are real attentive to their lil ones others no so much.

 

[Alaskan]

yep, I am a little worried about that.

But, supposedly she is a very good mother, so it should all work well. I have her in an 8x8 insulated chicken coop. There is a partition set up for an even more sheltered corner for her nest.

I put a baby feeder and a baby waterer in the coop, so hopefully she won't try to take the ducklings outside.

I will watch her closely to make sure.

I am thinking that as long as she keeps them in the coop for at least the first week, we might be OK.

Do you think I should put in a heat lamp? Or would that bother the mom? I guess I could put one up over where I put the food and water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

yep, I am a little worried about that.

But, supposedly she is a very good mother, so it should all work well. I have her in an 8x8 insulated chicken coop. There is a partition set up for an even more sheltered corner for her nest.

I put a baby feeder and a baby waterer in the coop, so hopefully she won't try to take the ducklings outside.

I will watch her closely to make sure.

I am thinking that as long as she keeps them in the coop for at least the first week, we might be OK.

Do you think I should put in a heat lamp? Or would that bother the mom? I guess I could put one up over where I put the food and water.

As long as she can't get out and leave them behind or they were to try and follow her and get left left behind that way she should be okay but what are your temps. It might be okay to put heat lamp over food and water but first I'd observe how things are going then move to plan B if you have too,. I'd say 2 weeks to gain some weight and be able to get away from adults if needed. Just my opinion though some leave their ducklings and moms with the flock, I'm an over protective granny.

 

[Alaskan]

the coop is open to the run....even though I have two other unimpressive shelters in the run, if it is very rainy, the other muscovies come into the coop to warm up and dry off. With that said however, the rest of the flock are almost never in there.

So, they are all still kept together.

She actually eats out of the baby feeder and waterer we put in the coop, so I am hoping that means she will not be tempted to go outside.

 

[Miss Lydia]

the coop is open to the run....even though I have two other unimpressive shelters in the run, if it is very rainy, the other muscovies come into the coop to warm up and dry off. With that said however, the rest of the flock are almost never in there.

So, they are all still kept together.

She actually eats out of the baby feeder and waterer we put in the coop, so I am hoping that means she will not be tempted to go outside.

I would some how put temporary fencing up to keep her in the part she is in right now, she'll at some point in the next couple day want to go out and those ducklings will try and follow, that's when trouble can happen if they get wet and chill. I saw the pic of her behind the ply wood can you block that off some how with out shutting out light.? That way the rest of the ducks can still go in but mama and babies are safe from elements.

 

[Alaskan]

Hummmmm.... That is a good idea. I will look carefully at everything and see what I think I can come up with.