CoParenting?

[elusvbtrfly]

I have 3 Rouen hens and 1 drake. A month ago, roughly, one hen became serious about brooding a nesting of eggs (Emma). Now Emma was never serious about brooding until FM (Ferocious Mama) kept brooding this spring. But FM and her sister were acquired as a young adults and still not friendly with me. Thus FM is easily scared off her nest (if I change the bedding in the coop). Emma would occasionally sit on that nest for a few hours or maybe two days when FM scared off. This time Emma started brooding roughly a month ago. So here's the thing. FM would force Emma off the nest to lay her egg each day. This after a week of Emma already brooding. The nest ended up containing 14 eggs. I should mention this is outside the coop as they free range every day. As the time approached for hatching FM insisted on brooding also forcing Emma out who would only stay out for about half an hour all the while trying to get back on the nest. The end result, after 2 days of raucous arguing if you will, was coparenting. Emma stayed, FM also stayed during the day, but would go to coop some nights. 3 ducklings have hatched, Emma does not leave the nest save 10mn once or twice a day. The ones that hatched 3 days ago roam on their own, and FM follows them at a short distance to make sure to keep chickens away.
Is coparenting common among ducks? I thought the babies follow the mama? Like ducks are famous for that.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I have 3 Rouen hens and 1 drake. A month ago, roughly, one hen became serious about brooding a nesting of eggs (Emma). Now Emma was never serious about brooding until FM (Ferocious Mama) kept brooding this spring. But FM and her sister were acquired as a young adults and still not friendly with me. Thus FM is easily scared off her nest (if I change the bedding in the coop). Emma would occasionally sit on that nest for a few hours or maybe two days when FM scared off. This time Emma started brooding roughly a month ago. So here's the thing. FM would force Emma off the nest to lay her egg each day. This after a week of Emma already brooding. The nest ended up containing 14 eggs. I should mention this is outside the coop as they free range every day. As the time approached for hatching FM insisted on brooding also forcing Emma out who would only stay out for about half an hour all the while trying to get back on the nest. The end result, after 2 days of raucous arguing if you will, was coparenting. Emma stayed, FM also stayed during the day, but would go to coop some nights. 3 ducklings have hatched, Emma does not leave the nest save 10mn once or twice a day. The ones that hatched 3 days ago roam on their own, and FM follows them at a short distance to make sure to keep chickens away.
Is coparenting common among ducks? I thought the babies follow the mama? Like ducks are famous for that.

Oh my goodness those babies are so adorable. God bless you and them! And Yes, it happens.

 

[elusvbtrfly]

And a pic of 2 babies wandering with FM following.
Also, how long should I let Emma continue to brood? She's not off long enough for me to candle them. The drake took an egg out 2 days ago. I took it in the house and handled, definitely still pulsing, but nowhere near hatch ready. I put it back in nest as was still alive. But for how long?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Yeah, the problem kinda was that one who kept laying some more eggs in there after first duck started sitting- so now you have a staggered hatch. But it seems to me since you do have two moms that as long as one is sitting on the nest, hatching the rest of the staggered eggs the other one will watch the babies?
I don’t really have a lot of experience with Ducks hatching out their own eggs. I hatched mine in an incubator, and once I hatch some under a broody chicken, but I took them away from her because she was crushing them.

 

[Jenbirdee]

By the way, if there is a Drake going in there you can build a little pen around the nesting area for the babies and the mom’s so the Drake can’t get in there because they do sometimes kill the babies

 

[MerryMeridional]

I had a pair of ducks try to both sit on and raise a nest of babies. It ended up with them trampling the babies. Several died. I had to remove one mom and let one do the job. After that it went fine.

 

[elusvbtrfly]

Thanks all for the input. I continue to monitor obviously, but so far so good. Emma continues to brood. FM seems to escort babies when they leave the nest beyond a couple feet perimeter. The drake has actually been good. He comes running if one of the hens squawks and chases off whatever is upsetting her (the chix, me..). The only one pestering the babies thus far is the third Rouen hen. But the other two and even the drake run her off when she does.
I was able to get in and steal eggs (leaving wooden eggs in place) for a moment today to candle the remaining 8 eggs. Most are so developed i can't really see anything, but one was barely started, I culled it and put the rest back. Emma saw me messing with nest and ran back and rearranged the wooden eggs, and thankfully went back for more food. She returned to nest when she saw me messing with again (putting eggs back). She resumed brooding. So hopefully just a few more days before the rest of the babies come.