I have a bantam sitting on 5 of her own eggs and two duck eggs (i started the duck eggs under another chicken and moved them to this one timing it so they are due to hatch at the same time) (I have candled them and they are fertile!) My question is can I just leave the hen to look after the ducklings and her chicks together when they hatch? Don't the little ducklings like to go for a swim quite soon after they hatch?
I'm doing the same thing, my silkie is setting on 3 ducks eggs. I'm hoping that she accepts them, but I'm prepared with an indoor broody if she rejects them. Only time will tell.
Quote:There were a few other posts on this topic not to long ago, Try searching the topic in the search above. Might help yah out a little more !! I would keep an eye on them when the start to hatch and make sure she doesnt reject or hurt them !! Also yes, they like to swim and chickens well dont swim so I would guess mama would be getting very upset !!
People who have let hens raise ducklings say that the hens have a regular fit once the ducklings discover water.
Good news is that you can raise ducklings with chickens under the same hen (although remember the egg incubation time is different!) They all hatched together (I had timed the duck eggs and moved them from one bantam to another so they were due to hatch at the same time) and the ducklings and chicks were quite happy together and the mummy loved them all the same.