First time duckling mom

[FluffTheDuck]

This is the first duckling I’ve ever had! I’ve got 9 laying hens and 9 more 3-7 week old chicks. I was given 3 Magpie duck eggs in a batch of fertile chicken eggs. One stopped developing before lockdown. I’d thought they were due to hatch last Thursday but this baby finally hatched tonight. I’m worried about the other egg. No pips yet. If it doesn’t hatch can I put this baby duckling with my other brooder chicks? It will be all by itself otherwise. The chicks in the brooder are 1-3 weeks old and there are only 5 of them.

It sure doesn't look like a magpie maybe I've just never seen a magpie duckling yellow like that I don't know. I think your duck will be fine with them as long as he chicks are tiny but if it doesnt hatch you will need to buy another duckling because they are really social and can die without another friend.

 

[artsy.owl]

It sure doesn't look like a magpie maybe I've just never seen a magpie duckling yellow like that I don't know. I think your duck will be fine with them as long as he chicks are tiny but if it doesnt hatch you will need to buy another duckling because they are really social and can die without another friend.

Yeah, I was expecting black and white. The parents I saw were typical magpie coloring. Who knows. Either way, it's a cutie! I'm going to go get a duckie buddy this afternoon. Is it ok that the buddy is a little older - like, by 2 weeks?

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Yup. I have ducklings ranging from as young as 3 weeks to as old as 7 weeks, all in the same pen! Except the oldest is about to move out

 

[artsy.owl]

Baby wasn't eating or drinking well last night (and hadn't pooped a lot) so it got to go on a duckie field trip with me to school today. She took a nap in my lap awhile ago, curled up to a hot water bottle

...

 

[FluffTheDuck]

Awwwwww! School allows you to bring animals? Or are you joking?

 

[artsy.owl]

Awwwwww! School allows you to bring animals? Or are you joking?

I am in a rural school and a lot of our students have farm animals not that they bring them to school, but... I have brought my chicks a couple of times when I had one that wouldn’t eat or something. On Meme Day during Homecoming week, I was “Look at all those chickens” and brought my Polish hen, RooPaula who is super tame and friendly. I’m the Art teacher and I have a huge room and storage closet so I can sneak them in sometimes! Haha. Our hedgehog has also been a visitor and one of my students rescues reptiles and had her iguana hanging out in my storage closet one day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don’t think it would be a good idea to put a day old duckling in with 3 week old chicks can you try and find a few ducklings that would be ideal. Such a cutie Congrats!!

 

[katiebrock]

Baby wasn't eating or drinking well last night (and hadn't pooped a lot) so it got to go on a duckie field trip with me to school today. She took a nap in my lap awhile ago, curled up to a hot water bottleView attachment 1765412 ...

How is the baby doing today?

 

[artsy.owl]

And as an update on baby duck, it was doing really well on Monday afternoon but wasn’t pooping often. I took her back to school with me Tuesday and she steadily declined during the day despite efforts to make sure she was eating and drinking properly. She passed away snuggling with me around noon yesterday. I knew she wasn’t feeling well but I didn’t expect her to die! I was so upset! She is buried in our garden now.

 

[katiebrock]

And as an update on baby duck, it was doing really well on Monday afternoon but wasn’t pooping often. I took her back to school with me Tuesday and she steadily declined during the day despite efforts to make sure she was eating and drinking properly. She passed away snuggling with me around noon yesterday. I knew she wasn’t feeling well but I didn’t expect her to die! I was so upset! She is buried in our garden now.

I am so sorry for your loss