Ducklings hatching soon!!!!

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Sue S

Sue S

Songster
6 Years
Mar 7, 2018
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Hi Everyone!!!
I'm so excited & a little nervous, my broody duck has been sitting on a nest of now 5 eggs, today is day 25!!! I was able to candle them on Saturday & 4 out of 5 are developing well, 1 is developing but looks a few days behind the rest. I'm hoping to be able to check on the eggs today, if she leaves the nest!!! I've incubated duck eggs but this is my 1st time having a broody hen sitting on a nest!! I feel like a new mom to be!!! Any advice??? She is sitting in the enclosed part of the pen, she is able to come & go when she wants, I'm try to keep the other ducks away from her as much as possible so she has her "alone time" but they all are in the same pen at night. She is a "new mom" so will she know what is happening & what to do when they start hatching, will the other ducks bother her during hatching, will they try to kill the babies??? Yes, I'm starting to stress out about this!!!! Advice Please!!!!
Olivia gone broody.jpg
new duck house.jpg
 
What a beautiful pen and coop. Okay most of us set our broody's up separate from the rest of the ducks and drakes because you just never know how they will react and some of both sex have been known to kill newly hatched ducklings. And while hatch is going on mama isn't going to go far to protect any that maybe out walking around while she is still sitting.

Being a first time mom she will have all the instincts there and most likely will do fine. sometimes they over react when hatching begins so if you can watch from a distance just to make sure she is not getting upset that would be good. You don't want to intervene unless absolutely necessary. I think she'll do great but make sure once hatching begins the others aren't messing with her and she has peace and quiet. The one that is a little behind she may stay for hatch then again usually between 2-3 days she is ready to be up and take the ducklings for their first field trip. So she may leave that egg hopefully it will hatch soon after the rest. I don't want to stress you out more than necessary but these are just a few things to be aware of mainly just sit back and let her do the work. They really are amazing. Put feed and water close by make sure none of the ducklings can climb into any water where they could drown. I usually set food and water close to where my duck is sitting so her first to hatch don't have to go far from the nest.
 
Miss Lydia said:
What a beautiful pen and coop. Okay most of us set our broody's up separate from the rest of the ducks and drakes because you just never know how they will react and some of both sex have been known to kill newly hatched ducklings. And while hatch is going on mama isn't going to go far to protect any that maybe out walking around while she is still sitting.

Being a first time mom she will have all the instincts there and most likely will do fine. sometimes they over react when hatching begins so if you can watch from a distance just to make sure she is not getting upset that would be good. You don't want to intervene unless absolutely necessary. I think she'll do great but make sure once hatching begins the others aren't messing with her and she has peace and quiet. The one that is a little behind she may stay for hatch then again usually between 2-3 days she is ready to be up and take the ducklings for their first field trip. So she may leave that egg hopefully it will hatch soon after the rest. I don't want to stress you out more than necessary but these are just a few things to be aware of mainly just sit back and let her do the work. They really are amazing. Put feed and water close by make sure none of the ducklings can climb into any water where they could drown. I usually set food and water close to where my duck is sitting so her first to hatch don't have to go far from the nest.
Click to expand...
She left the nest this morning for a swim & I checked the eggs ( didn't candle) & 3 have externally pipped, that was at about 8am, she returned to the nest about 20 mins later so, I shut her in the pen so the other ducks won't bother her, I just checked on her again & no ducklings yet. I do have a food & water dish close to her ( it's a dog food water /dish container) so I'll change it & put a different water container in so the ducklings won't fall in it. I'll keep checking every hour, patiently waiting for the ducklings!!!!!
 

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