Duckling have arrived! (What now??)

[Miss Lydia]

Me too but I get my fill just looking at all the new babies and it hasn't even started good yet.

 

[Elly88]

To update - mama and 4 babies are doing well. We lost one baby to the Drake who it turns out can fly much higher than expected, he got back into their yard and killed one before we got him out again.

The remaining four are growing fast, swimming, roaming, hunting and foraging.

Our second mama, Princess, had 14 eggs originally. One was thrown out of her nst a while back. Five hatched 3 days ago, with a 6th hatching the following day. 6 eggs remain unhatched. Could they still hatch? mama is still sitting on the nest for much of the day, with occasional forays into the yard with her little brood. I don't want to disturb them if they may still hatch, but don't want them to rot if they are not viable, or for her to be stuck sitting when she should be out and about with her babies. What do you think?

 

[Elly88]

The new babies:

 

[Elly88]

Out and about

 

[lomine]

Can you candle the eggs? If so, I could candle them and see if there is any movement. If not, I would personally take the eggs away so mom can focus on those that did hatch. Chances are they aren’t going to hatch. But that’s a completely personal decision you’ll have to make for yourself.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How adorable Congratulations Candling is a good way to tell and smell if they smell time for them to go to.

 

[Elly88]

Just a quick update - 10 ducklings made it through between the two mums, and are happy and healthy, and such a delight!