Can my duck raise ducklings?

[Red White & Belews]

This feels like SUCH a silly question to ask... BUT

We have 3 Khaki Campbell ducks that went broody. We had our first hatchings yesterday!! Maybe 6-8 ducklings. It is hard to get a good count because the mamas are being super protective. They are still laying on more eggs, so I expect when I get home today there could be even more ducklings. We have separated them from the drake for safety, but my real question is... do I let the mama ducks raise the ducklings? Or should I catch them and put them in a brooder? I have always raised ducklings that were already hatched from a store...this is our first time letting nature run it's course, and I just don't know when to intervene, if at all. If I let the mamas raise them...do I need to have special food out for them all?

TIA!!!

 

[laurita1510]

Brooder. Khaki's are notoriously bad mums. Mine was just completely disinterested until they were big enough xx

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe at least give them a chance. Ducks have been raising ducklings a lot longer than we have. If you notice them not caring for their ducklings then take them and brood them yourself. Nothing more enjoyable that watching mama and ducklings enjoying themselves. Put out chick starter for them all. and water containers that the ducklings can't climb into and drown.

 

[Red White & Belews]

Thanks! Yes, I think we are going to plan to let the mamas try raising them, but have a brooder ready in the event we notice them going down hill. As of last night we counted 12 little ones! Mamas seem like they know what they are doing, I just hope they are helping them eat. Hubby and I decided (as bad as it sounds...) the first deceased one we find, we are catching all to raise on our own. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen!!!

 

[Babybluex3]

Good luck, we have our first duckings this morning. I have heard runners are one of the worst mums but mine has been doing a great job so far. It is just a wait and see situation.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a precious pic 12 little ones she will def have her wings full lol.

 

[Red White & Belews]

What a precious pic 12 little ones she will def have her wings full lol.

We actually have 2 mamas between the 12 ducklings right now. Both mamas took to the same nesting box and have been "sharing" duties I suppose. I hope that doesn't cause tension between them later on, but definitely we can tell some of the ducklings prefer one mama over the other. One of the mamas got out of the pen yesterday evening, and some of the ducklings somehow escaped also. They stayed right with their mama though, so that was good. We managed to catch all the ducklings and put them back with the other mama, but escapee mama was SO angry at us for messing with her babies it took some time to catch her without getting bit!! Finally once we caught her and reunited her with all ducklings and the other mama, they all went to bed. Hopefully that protective nature that they mamas have is a good sign that they will be caring for the ducklings, but we will continue to keep watch and a head count on the cute little things!!

We still have 1 duck (a third) nesting another nest full of eggs, and there are more eggs that these 2 mamas have occasionally been laying on when not chasing ducklings...so there is a good chance our 12 ducklings will have multiplied when we get home this evening!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like they are doing a fine job. Look forward to hearing what the numbers are when you get home.

 

[CayugaJana]

The picture with the ducklings huddled with under Mom is so sweet! Keep me safe Mom!

I’ve always heard good things about Khaki Campbell’s and their mothering skills. I’ve only had a male and he was a jerk.

You are going to have babies everywhere!

 

[chickens really]

Momma are the best way to go..They teach the Ducklings how to be Ducks..