Feeding Hatchlings with their momma- When do they eat?and what? HELP!

[skylarms]

I have a duck who has been trying for 2 1/2 months to get an egg to hatch. Finally today, one of her eggs that remain hatched. well, at least I think it is one she layed, but it could be from another duck as shes an egg stealer. Anyhoo, one more should hatch any day but in the meantime momma is not leaving her nest or her baby. So how will baby eat? When do they start eating and drinking? I put a chick feeder and waterer right near the nest, but I am sure mom wont be getting up because she is still on her eggs. any suggestions? I have never raised ducks before with their mom. Its a Runner/ Harlequin mix baby and is darling. It is chocolate and yellow with dark legs but a light beak. Should be interesting. My daughter named it Fruit Loop. My son is waiting for Honey Nut to hatch.

 

[70%cocoa]

First of all, congratulations to you and your duck for the beautiful new baby!!!

Ducklings do not need to eat or drink for about 48 hours after they hatch - during this time they are living off the last of the yolk that they absorbed just before they hatched. Your mother duck knows this and is also giving the other eggs a chance to hatch. So she will keep sitting and wait. You have done exactly the right thing by putting a chick feeder and waterer right next to the duck. They will show interest in it when they are ready. But don't panic if you don't see the duckling showing interest for the first day or so (especially in the food) - that is totally normal.

It sounds like everything is going really well and that you and your duck are doing a great job!

 

[skylarms]

THank you so much! Its been a long process..... Shes been wanting to be a momma for a long time, but we usually collect eggs daily, especially since they arent the same breed of ducks. They are pets mainly and slug killers. I let the kids keep the male as he is super friendly and just a ham to have around. Momma is actually a VERY nice duck from VERY nice stock but we were given her because she broke her leg, limps, and her previous flock picked on her. We left for a weekend and she had her eggs and our other females eggs under guard. I caved and let her keep them but on four occasions found preterm dead ducklings pulled from the nest. Found our that the chickens were sneaking in the ducks house and trying to eat the eggs, consequently killing the babies ( they dont eat their own eggs so its very strange). She has two that survived the chickens and were actually fertile , the hatchling and one that looks like it should hatch any day. So THANK YOU!!!! Lets hope little Fruit Loop thrives. I will be interested to see what it turns out to look like. It almost looks like a chocolate runner right now.... Needless to say, when I found out about the chickens, mom, eggs, and house all got moved far from the chickens reach.