ducklings hatched

[bantyjava14]

Good afternoon everyone. Our Bantam hen successfully hatched 3 Rouen ducklings for us yesterday, what a good mother! She is taking good care of them and is very protective. They pipped at around 6 AM and were completely hatched by 8 PM. From what I have seen on other threads, it can take quite a bit longer for ducks to hatch so I was surprised they hatched so quickly. They are so fluffy and cute!

 

[TwoCrows]

Congrats on the broody hatch! How Egg-citing!

Enjoy this wonderful adventure and welcome to BYC!

 

[bantyjava14]

Well, another one was hiding so we have 4 ducklings! Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on the hatch!

 

[gander007]

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - congratulations on the hatch.

 

[bantyjava14]

Thank you to all!

 

[drumstick diva]

congratulations on the little duck-letts

 

[CWranglers]

Congratulations on your hatch!
As you are an experienced duck owner, I would like to ask you about my ducks. My ducks are about 5-6 months old and my female just recently started laying. I believe the eggs could be fertile. I have to keep the coop closed during the day so crows don't take the eggs. Should I collect the eggs and incubate them inside? I've read Pekin are not usually broody. They were white when first laid and they are turning brown, could just be dirty. The oldest is 11 days old today. Most of them are the size of chicken eggs, but the last 2 are bigger, does that mean anything?
Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

[bantyjava14]

We have had ducks for several years and have yet to have them sit on their own eggs (we have Rouen and they are not particularly broody). I have never used an electric incubator, always my own hens. Since our ducks have never wanted to sit on their own eggs and I have a very broody Bantam hen, I decided to put the eggs under her. The eggs had been in the duck nest for several days before I took them and put under our Bantam. The size difference of the eggs could be due to an ovulation "glitch" since they have just started laying as normal ducks eggs are about 2-3 times larger than chicken eggs. If you go to the Duck Forum and search you might be able to find something more specific to your situation - there is a lot of information and shared experiences. Oh, and welcome to this site, it's great.