First time momma duck

[ajroth166]

So I have a first time momma duck sitting on eggs. The hatching process has started two days ago. So far four ducks have hatched, but three out of the four have ended up hatching perfectly fine but within 24 hrs have ended up dead. Two of them looked like they were stuck between the other eggs and with momma sitting on them, they couldn’t get out. So it’s almost like she’s suffocated them. Is this something that happens to first time duck mommas? Also, since this is continuing to happen with each baby that has hatched, should I relocate the eggs to an incubator to finish the hatching process?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

What kind of duck is she? Most domestic mallard types are not good mothers.

 

[ajroth166]

What kind of duck is she? Most domestic mallard types are not good mothers.

She is a khaki Campbell and is a year old

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Hmmm I thought KCs were in the better mother group. Maybe remove freshly hatched chicks and brood them. I am sure someone who knows more than I do will be along shortly.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How many eggs was she sitting on? If quite a few the ducklings can get squashed under and in between the eggs. Sorry for your loss

 

[ajroth166]

How many eggs was she sitting on? If quite a few the ducklings can get squashed under and in between the eggs. Sorry for your loss

19 including the ones we lost. They definitely seemed like they were getting stuck or something. How many is a good hatch to avoid that? Is it common for that to happen?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't know how common but it does happen. I keep mine around 8. But I also try too keep the population from exploding too. But 8 is a nice number for first time mamas also. I mark the eggs with a marker usually the date they are laid then when she begins to sit I take out the oldest eggs till I have a nice number they don't care as long as they have eggs to sit on.

Is she still hatching? @ajroth166

 

[ajroth166]

I don't know how common but it does happen. I keep mine around 8. But I also try too keep the population from exploding too. But 8 is a nice number for first time mamas also. I mark the eggs with a marker usually the date they are laid then when she begins to sit I take out the oldest eggs till I have a nice number they don't care as long as they have eggs to sit on.

Is she still hatching? @ajroth166

I don’t know what else to do bc I had another one that started to pip in the evening and I didn’t want anything to happen to it over night and lose another duckling so I took the eggs and put them in the incubator that I already had set up and going. Since then the first is almost hatched and there are two more that have pipped. I hated to take her eggs but I didn’t know what else to do at the time

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think you did the right thing just remember she probably won't take them back . Unless you left her with a few eggs then you maybe able to get these back to her.