Can I give my broody duck ducklings?

[PirateGirl]

i had a broody duck sitting on eggs for 2 weeks. She left the nest, so I put the eggs in the incubator. I increased the humidity tonight, I think they will hatch this weekend. I'm going to try to give some back to her. She is still quite hormonal, but not staying on a nest. So sometimes you just have to try and see what happens. Just have a Plan B, in case.

I was afraid of your situation. I don't have an incubator. If she didn't set long enough I would lose them all so I haven't let her set, but she's been awfully loud about it.

 

[lomine]

The only way you’ll know is if you try. I’ve successfully gotten a broody chicken to take shipped three day olds and another to take chicks I hatched in the incubator.

I would put them under her right away and just observe her. Be ready to take them if it doesn’t work. If the ducklings get too old they may be the ones to not accept her so watch and make sure they actually stay with her.

 

[PirateGirl]

Update:

I am going to attempt introduction after work this afternoon. The weather is much improved and sooner sounds better than later. Any tips or advice before then is greatly appreciated.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Good luck!

 

[CayugaJana]

Mom will sit on them to keep them warm if they get cold. Good luck!!

 

[PirateGirl]

Ok. This is the tentative plan, what do you all think... Close duck house door so no one can get in. Put the babies in the nest. Catch potential mama and add her in with the babies. Observe, make sure mama isn't aggressive. I will have access to a human door/hatch in roof that I use for egg collection so I can observe and reach in but ducks cannot escape. If all seems ok, then open the duck house door so they can go in the run. See if mama stays on the nest, see if she leaves and if the babies follow her, see how they do with the remainder of the flock. Also add a ramp for the littles if they can't navigate the 4" step into the duck house as well as add their drinker and food dish to the run since they won't be able to reach the big ducks' bucket.


Alternate tools for introduction... I have 2 different wire dog crates. I also have approximately 8'x8' fenced raised bed garden area that is currently empty (no vegetation, no chickens, no ducks, no one's territory). I also have a rubbermade tote that I have setup as the current brooder. If any of these would help or make life easier I could use them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I sure hope it works if she is truly broody it might. When my ducks [3] hatched ducklings all within a few days of each other the mamas would accept the others ducklings for the first week after that if one of the others ducklings got to following another mama and her babes she would run them off. They aren't as accepting as chicken hens. Not here anyway.

I hope it works you just never know from one duck to the next.

 

[chickens really]

How old are the Ducklings and are they human imprinted yet?..If you have been playing with them they won't properly imprint to the Hen..

 

[chickens really]

Also moving her to another location other than her nest she was Broody on won't work. She will not accept the Ducklings and possibly will injure them?

 

[PirateGirl]

How old are the Ducklings and are they human imprinted yet?..If you have been playing with them they won't properly imprint to the Hen..

I have not had the ducklings 24 hours yet and have only handled them to show them their waterer. They are maybe a few days old and seem scared of people so I just left them to get settled in alone in the brooder in the house.