Hatching Ducklings at Portland UK

[PortlandUK]

At last my ducklings have started to hatch! It seems so long since the duck first went broody but today we have the first little duckling. It is jet black with a small yellow splodge on its head. I will take pictures soon.

There was no sign of hatching this morning so this has happened while we were at work (doh!).

Now we have a dilema - There are two broody ducks sitting on another 7 eggs (a black runner duck and a runner x campbell) and they seem to be attentive to the new hatchling and sharing the brooding, however the nest is in the 'annexe' of the duck house. There are other ducks, a drake and chickens that can have access to the duck house so we are concerned that one could attack the duckling. Even more of a concern is the worry of rats, which we know are around as our cats are very good at catching them!

Do we:

a) relocate the doting broodies together with the complete nest to a shed that is more secure and close to our house - would they lose the broodiness if we move them?; or

b) remove the duckling and put it under a heat lamp - though it is approximately only 6 hours old.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[PortlandUK]

OK. So we've made an executive decision (well, I did). We have closed up the duck house and put food and water in for the broody ducks in high sided containers so that the duckling can't get it, and a small shallow food/water bowl (ex-cat dinner dish) for the duckling.

Perhaps reluctantly, the other ducks and drake are going for a sleep over in the small hen house and some of the hens that usually sleep in there are having a sleep over in the large hen house. Sleeping bags at the ready!!!!

We have checked the duck house for any holes that rats could gain access through and Monty the cat is sitting outside the duck house on Rat Patrol - could be a late night for him!

We'll be eager to check in the morning that all is well and for signs of any more hatching!

Photos to follow ....