Drakes helpful with new hatch???

[girls and guineas]

I had asked about drakes--will they hurt the baby ducklings?? My babies have hatched out. There are still 5 eggs in the nest, but they aren't getting sat on very much. Maybe thru the night, they may hatch. Anyway, my drake has been very helpful, sitting on the eggs and baby ducklings. I don't know if their instinct is as good as the hens?? So far, he has sat right beside the hen and been helping. It is cold today, and the little ducklings, only 1 day old, came outside and were in the shallow water too!! I hope they didn't get too cold and get sick!!! They went back in the duck house after a few min.

 

[Eika]

I can't speak for all but my drake (Robb) really surprised me by taking up a few fatherly duties while my muscovies were babies. I initially kept him separated from them but one day one of the ducklings wriggled though the fence into his pen. When I came out to do a head count I was horrified and thought one had been eaten, until I noticed it nestled asleep in the drake's shelter, with Robb dutifully standing guard over the entrance. After that I cautiously let him in with the mum and ducklings. The mum did most of the work obviously, and he never shared the nest like yours is (or at least I never saw him do so) but he did used to sit with them while mamma duck went off for walks, he would preen them occasionally and even take them on little foraging jaunts around the garden.

He's doing it again now with my 3 hand-reared babies who've just been introduced to the flock. All of the other ducks can be quite aggressive, especially around feeding time, but again Robb is surprisingly gentle and even when he's telling them to back away from his food dish he's remarkably mild about it. So mild in fact they've started to deliberately hang around him at feeding time as he's such a big, mean looking guy the other ducks give him some space haha. Guess he just likes playing the Uncle

 

[girls and guineas]

I'm SO Excited!!! I have 9 baby ducklings that have hatched out!! Daddy Willie has been helping with them. He scoops them out of the shallow water--don't know if he thinks they've been in long enough or just making sure they're okay?? He picked up 1 by the back of the neck (like cats & dogs do)--it was out of the water-- and put it back down on the ground!!! I was watching to see what he was doing, and if he was going to hurt it--I was ready to start yelling and take action!! I'm wondering if the little duckling didn't obey right away, or if it had a bad attitude??? SO FUNNY!!! God has given them such good parenting instincts!!! So far, daddy drake has been real good with them!!! They were in the shallow water the first day, and it's been cold and rainy. I was afraid they would get cold and sick, but so far they are doing fine!

 

[Eika]

Exciting! Are these your first clutch? If so enjoy it, they grow up far too quickly Has anybody else experienced Drakes being good Dads?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

It really depends on the Drake. I have had both types here. With ducklings, you need to be observant and be ready to separate. Can go well, can also result in dead ducklings. I guess this is true for all adults, not necessarily just drakes.