Duck behavior after hatch?

[Blondiega1]

Can anyone point me to a thread about what to expect now that my girl has hatched out 6 peepers?
When will they first want to eat?
When will she first lead them to water?
Etc....

 

[Blondiega1]

Anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Anyone?

Just now saw your post and wanted to say Congratulations.. 6 ducklings how coolMama will take them to food an water usually in about 24 hrs. they live off the yolk sac till then, she'll probably take them to water as soon as she can, which can be a dilemma .if you have a pond that may contain Snapping turtles. They eat ducklings an large mouth bass they will eat them also. I keep my mamas and ducklings in temp fencing/housing until 3 week s old that gives them time to grow learn the ropes and the rest of the flock gets to know them and vise versa.

 

[Blondiega1]

Just now saw your post and wanted to say Congratulations.. 6 ducklings how coolMama will take them to food an water usually in about 24 hrs. they live off the yolk sac till then, she'll probably take them to water as soon as she can, which can be a dilemma .if you have a pond that may contain Snapping turtles. They eat ducklings an large mouth bass they will eat them also. I keep my mamas and ducklings in temp fencing/housing until 3 week s old that gives them time to grow learn the ropes and the rest of the flock gets to know them and vise versa.

Thank you so much!
I left her a water dish for ducklings near the nest.
I keep watching for her to take them out again.
No snapping turtles in our lake.
We do have some bass, but I don't believe they would be big enough to take a duckling.
My biggest concern is the resident Red Tail Hawk.
He mostly patrols the fields for mice, but I have seen him go after a squirrel in the yard.

The one time she brought them out, when she saw me snapping pics, she led them back to nest.
They are still all huddled up in the nest right now.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
I'm just so darn excited she hatched them this time!!
Especially after last years disappointment.

 

[Blondiega1]

I guess my biggest question is, do I need to go remove any shells or unhatched eggs from the nest?
Or will she do that?
Will she bring them back to the nest at night?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I guess my biggest question is, do I need to go remove any shells or unhatched eggs from the nest?
Or will she do that?
Will she bring them back to the nest at night?

Where do they usually sleep at night? when she bring them out go in an tidy up taking any unhatched eggs and egg shells. She may move them to a new location and I would be very worried about the hawks since mama has no way to protect them or herself. My duck mamas take theirs back to where they hatched but they have no choice since I have them fenced in. I hope you can gets some pics posted I'd love to see them. I am so happy for you because I know you were disappointed when none hatched last year. Sounds like she has done herself proud this year.

 

[Blondiega1]

Where do they usually sleep at night? when she bring them out go in an tidy up taking any unhatched eggs and egg shells. She may move them to a new location and I would be very worried about the hawks since mama has no way to protect them or herself. My duck mamas take theirs back to where they hatched but they have no choice since I have them fenced in. I hope you can gets some pics posted I'd love to see them. I am so happy for you because I know you were disappointed when none hatched last year. Sounds like she has done herself proud this year.

Thanks so much!
Her nest is up against the back of the house behind air conditioner.
They are well hid and she at home.
Mine are free range.
Doing my best to help her without interfering.


Hope this works!



[VIDEO]

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks so much!
Her nest is up against the back of the house behind air conditioner.
They are well hid and she at home.
Mine are free range.
Doing my best to help her without interfering.


Hope this works!

Aren't they just the most adorable lil things.. talking to them the whole time probably saying "Now stay close" Keep us updated on them all.

 

[Blondiega1]

Aren't they just the most adorable lil things.. talking to them the whole time probably saying "Now stay close" Keep us updated on them all.

Thanks I will!!
I thought it so cute her talking to them and them peeping back.