Does a broody duck "need" to have swim time to cool down before heading back to the nest?

[Miss Lydia]

Please keep us updated on what's going on. I'm pretty paranoid about chicks and water since I had one drown but if you can make a way for them to get out of the water safely then it's your decision on leaving them with water and their older now to so I'm sure that make a difference.

 

[Lacrystol]

The dried stuff on them smelled rotten too.  They would have been better off with that still on there?  So much to learn  

The nasty stuff probably would not have hurt them not as bad as washing them because they. We're still protected.

 

[Lacrystol]

Please keep us updated on what's going on. I'm pretty paranoid about chicks and water since I had one drown but if you can make a way for them to get out of the water safely then it's your decision on leaving them with water and their older now to so I'm sure that make a difference. 

As long As they can get out, yes it's ok.. I have a pond that my ducks made and it's smack in the middle of they yard the chickens will go right up to it and drink out of it. They usually don't fall in it. Now when I had a plastic pool like those kiddy pools omg I was helping chickens out left and right so the pool is gone. They just have to be able to grip something to pull themselves out and with plastic pools there's nothing to grip. So they end up drowning if your not there to rescue them

 

[MV Chicks]

They have a plastic concrete mixing pan. Its only about 4" deep. Its what they swim in during winter so she's used to it. I made stairs going in and out with bricks. I haven't seen mama forcing them to swim yet. Babies are even drinking from it, so all seems good.

 

[L0rraine]

My very first duckling was hatched by a desperately broody hen. She mothered that poor duckling so protectively that after its first exposure to water, during which time the hen shrieked bloody murder, the duckling was thoroughly convinced that it was not meant to swim. I eventually got a duck companion for her and even then it took her several weeks to experiment with the pool again.

 

[MV Chicks]

Goes to show how you learn what you live. Everything is going swimmingly today...pun intended. Mom is still on the nest. She came out in the pen and protested a little about not being out with them rest, but then went back inside on the nest. She still has her swim pan so at this point all she's missing is the free ranging.

 

[MV Chicks]

UPDATE..............We now have 6 eggs left in the nest. Today is day 36. When I candle them they look very full of bird w/ an air pocket at the end. I can't tell if there is movement or not. She did have 8 eggs in the nest. Two went missing. I'm guessing she ate them? They are nowhere around. Does that mean she thinks the last 6 in her nest are still viable? She continues to sit, even though she comes out to eat bathe and hang w/ her baby chickens several times a day. I can tell she really misses being with the other ducks, since I have her and the babies in their own area. Do you think this is a situation where she just doesn't want to give up? Should I wait another week? I just don't know how I could have gotten the due date that far off.

 

[corrinekay]

I would wait. You could have been off on the dates. Glad to hear all is well. They sound to be doing ok. Just give it a little more time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

UPDATE..............We now have 6 eggs left in the nest. Today is day 36. When I candle them they look very full of bird w/ an air pocket at the end. I can't tell if there is movement or not. She did have 8 eggs in the nest. Two went missing. I'm guessing she ate them? They are nowhere around. Does that mean she thinks the last 6 in her nest are still viable? She continues to sit, even though she comes out to eat bathe and hang w/ her baby chickens several times a day. I can tell she really misses being with the other ducks, since I have her and the babies in their own area. Do you think this is a situation where she just doesn't want to give up? Should I wait another week? I just don't know how I could have gotten the due date that far off.

This is where I'd talk to Lacrystol she is into hatching and can probably guide you into maybe choosing one egg to open and see what's going on. I'd PM her.

 

[Lacrystol]

UPDATE..............We now have 6 eggs left in the nest. Today is day 36. When I candle them they look very full of bird w/ an air pocket at the end. I can't tell if there is movement or not. She did have 8 eggs in the nest. Two went missing. I'm guessing she ate them? They are nowhere around. Does that mean she thinks the last 6 in her nest are still viable? She continues to sit, even though she comes out to eat bathe and hang w/ her baby chickens several times a day. I can tell she really misses being with the other ducks, since I have her and the babies in their own area. Do you think this is a situation where she just doesn't want to give up? Should I wait another week? I just don't know how I could have gotten the due date that far off.

BE PATIENT, she's doing an excellent job, she's needs to bath so that she can raise there humidity. LOL good MOMMY..