Co-Parenting?

[2goats]

Good morning. We went on vacation and came back to find all four of our female muscovy ducks sitting on eggs. We thinned out each clutch (not easy) and let them continue to sit. One of our ducks hatched some ducklings and one of our other ducks has now left her clutch to take care of the new ducklings. Do females really co-parent? Is Snow trying to steal Ante's ducklings? Sometimes they fight. Does Snow know that one of those ducklings maybe came from her egg? What is going on?

 

[chickens really]

Definitely they steal and I separate my Hens and Ducklings so they each bond with their own babies.

 

[happy duck]

I am leaving for vaca tomorrow and am hoping to find that my duck want to be moms!

 

[2goats]

Is there anything to be done about it now?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any way you can separate each one into their own space? Temp fencing ?

 

[2goats]

They haven't been fighting much lately. They seem to have settled into the swing of co-parenting. My other 2 females were sitting on the same clutch of eggs and they are now out and about with their ducklings. Same deal, co-parenting.

 

[casportpony]

One of my last big clutches was three hens that hatched close to twenty. The three hens figured it out and raised all of them together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Never had ducks co parent but have had some of my chicken hens do it and it worked out good. Great to hear all is going good. How about some pics?

 

[2goats]

Pictures attached.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is precious how did those little ones get into that tank? If me I’d make a ramp or steps so they can easily get in and out. But I am a worry wort