Hatching duck eggs with broody chicken

[QuackerSb]

i started out with 12 duck eggs placed under my broody Dominque hen. One by one the eggs disappeared without a trace and I was left with 2 duck eggs under her. I didn’t have confidence that they’d hatch but one of them did today and the duckling is under her. I’m not sure about the other egg as I do not see sign of pipping yet. My question is when can I remove duckling from care of chicken hen and can a single duckling survive in a brooder? I’m concerned with leaving it with hen cause it is in a raised nesting box and I don’t want duckling to fall Nd get injured. Help! What to do?

 

[LRH97]

I wouldn't worry about removing the duckling from the hen. I would actually advise against it, especially if the other egg doesn't hatch. If it turns out to be a loner, it will be miserable by itself. Plus, mom has gone through all that work incubating. Have you candled the other egg? Start there and see if anything is going on inside. If not, discard. If so, may need to get creative until it hatches (which shouldn't be too long, assuming you set all the eggs at the same time). Is there anything you can put in front of the next box to make sure the baby doesn't fall out? A scrap piece of wood or something? I am paranoid about these things so I only let broodies set on the ground. However, the baby may very well stay under its mom without any issues until the other egg hatches. They usually don't tend to be too curious and feisty until they're at least a full day old.

What I would be worried about is what has taken 10 of your eggs. If your hen hasn't been bothered at all, sounds like you may have a snake problem. I'd look for where it's getting in before it comes back and finds the ducklings in place of the eggs.