Broody Duck Hen

[Miss Lydia]

I read once on here about some one integrating some bator hatched duckling into a group of ducklings that were out with mama. It has to happen in the first few days though. I noticed with my own Muscovy's they will gladly take on the other mamas ducklings for first 3-4 days after that nope they know their own and wont tolerate anothers.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

So they won’t raise them together? I’ve see wild geese care for their little ones together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ducks are nothing like geese believe me I have both. Geese are loving parents both sexes in the duck world only mama raises her brood.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

But will the females ‘join broods’ and raise the ducklings together?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not really you might find a few female ducks that will sit and work together to raise brood you’ll just have to see how it goes. I’ve had chickens do it never ducks.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

I guess we’ll find out. They’ll only have to protect the ducklings from each other (if they decide not to work together) and the dogs, there’s no drake to pick on them

 

[Raenh]

I'm sorry about your drake... I know how you feel about it. My dog got my fancy when he was protecting one of the twins...

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Update on the bator eggs; 9/10 are moving and looking good. We took out all of the obvious duds. Only one seems a bit iffy, there’s no movement and it seems like the eyes are in the wrong spots and it kinda looks like the yolk burst.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Both are happy this morning haven’t seen any arguing over the eggs yet, but if I do, I will see about separating them. I honestly can’t stand to loose any more eggs. They probably won’t be laying for a while and we’ve got no drake so from now on there’s no chance for them to be fertile.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Incubator eggs; About halfway there!