Baby Muscovy ducklings a bit confused

[srsmith69]

I have five broody muscovy hens in one stall of my barn. They all started setting at different times. The first nest hatched on April 15th. But apparently the ducklings didn't like their mother. They promptly left their nest and huddled around, under, on top of the neighboring hen. The black hen is the mother. Doesn't she look sad?

On the other hand, the adopted mom seems content.

I put the new ducklings and mama in a stock tank for a couple days to form the proper attachments. Now the brown hen has hatched her clutch. I released the mama and ducklings from the stocktank and the ducklings immediately formed a "SUPER FLOCK" of 35 ducklings. They have a mama on each side. Everyone seems to be happy.

I noticed at lunch that the "SUPER FLOCK" had absorbed a recently hatched Khaki Campbell duckling from Hen number 3. I've never had this happen with chicks. Is this normal duck behavior?

 

[duckyfromoz]

VERY cute pics there srsmith69. I have never let my girls sit in close proximity so I can give them each their own area to raise their babies - so I havent seen anything like that for myself- but I do know that some mothers are better at sitting on the eggs- than raising the babies once hatched- and can often have their babies " stolen" by a more attentative mother. Sounds more like a huge duckie creche at your place though- must be a real sight to see.

 

[Mom 2em All]

sooooooooo cute!
I have two broodies as well. They are both on clutches under neath a boarded off rabbit hutch. One is a good broody and ahead by a week, the other doesnt sit for long periods like the first. Rather, she takes very long breaks and wanders the yard and swims and eats, etc before returning to her clutch. I am curious to see how it turns out for mine. The good broody hasnt gotten off the nest at all that I have seen. ANd my frizzle hen has two chicks that are five weeks old- and they dont really hang out with Mom CHicken anymore- they have been seen nesting with broody duck quite a bit now.

 

[Bleenie]

A friend of mine Dealt with this sometimes, all of her ducks nested in the same coop floor so they often stole babies and eggs. I recently adopted a couple hens from her with one baby. Mom #1 decided to be broody about 2 weeks after getting here so mom #2 took over raising the baby full time. I have another momma duck right now and one of my other hens sleeps on top of thier pen at night and is in with them during the day helping take care of them. They're definitely more laid back sometimes when it comes to parenting.

 

[srsmith69]

Now the duckling mob has gone and done it. All 38 ducklings were found last night huddling around, under, on top of a third female muscovy that still has about two weeks before her eggs hatch. The two mother ducks were huddled around watching them. Today at lunch, the third hen has apparently abandoned her nest because she thinks the ducklings are hers. If she's not back on the eggs this evening, guess I'll put them in the bator. The ducklings are kind of like the "Blob" from the old movie. Sucking up any ducklings or hens they come in contact with.

 

[coptop89]

Very interesting situation you have going on there. Would love to see pics of this 38 pack mob!!