Hatching experiment - Time to make my Muscovy a mom!

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

The cats will definitely be kept far away until the babies are much bigger. Remi and Matilda are definitely very interested in the peeping that is coming from the stall.

Annnnd, my hubby reports that he saw THREE ducklings this afternoon. He thinks they are all Rouens. Today was day 27, so clearly they were overachievers. I took a peek after work. Mama wouldn’t budge, but I caught a peek of a fuzzy baby Rouen I heard a LOT of peeping!

I did get a picture of Mama

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a serious look lol I always keep mama and ducklings with everyone but safe behind lattice that I have stapled fencing to so the ducklings can't get through and out with the adults. You just never know how one might react and I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

There’s 4 this morning! I got two not-great pictures while holding Mama back with my other hand. It looks like Rouenx2 + Welsh Harlequinx2!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How adorable is this!
Congrats to mama and you!

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

How adorable is this!
Congrats to mama and you!

Thank you! It looks like the newest arrival is a possibly female Welsh Harlequin and the other Welshie is male based off of bill color? I’ve decided that one male can stay. I will have to wait on the Rouens to voice sex when they are older. I wouldn’t mind if the hatch stopped at 4 ducklings as I feel that I could handle a total of 7 ducks with the space I have.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you! It looks like the newest arrival is a possibly female Welsh Harlequin and the other Welshie is male based off of bill color? I’ve decided that one male can stay. I will have to wait on the Rouens to voice sex when they are older. I wouldn’t mind if the hatch stopped at 4 ducklings as I feel that I could handle a total of 7 ducks with the space I have.

How many eggs are left?

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

How many eggs are left?

There are 3. One is in some sort of state, possibly hatching, while the other two are still very solid, possibly with pips, but Mama wouldn’t let me see. I got a video, but can not upload it until later. Here’s more pictures though! Everyone is looking good. #1, Apollo, must be getting a bit hungry. Hopefully, she leads them off the nest soon. Today is only day 28, so it is too early to give up on the others. If work wouldn’t stop getting in the way of things, I would take a better look at the remaining 3 to see if they are making progress/alive.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Most of the time my Muscovy girls will stay on the nest 2-3 days after first ones hatch. Hopefully your Muscovy will stay until all have hatched. If you put food and water close by they will be fine.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Most of the time my Muscovy girls will stay on the nest 2-3 days after first ones hatch. Hopefully your Muscovy will stay until all have hatched. If you put food and water close by they will be fine.

Thank you for your reassurance! I’ve been getting a little worried about Mama as she has entirely stopped taking care of herself over the past couple of days. She started the spring a bit fat, so she is still in decent condition, but I want her to remember that she needs to care for herself if she wants to be the best Mama!

I ended up candling the remaining 3 eggs this evening. One had nobody home at all (not fertilized, I guess), one looked like it developed a little, then stopped, and one looked like it was filled with a horrible rotten liquid. No pips, no movement, nothing. So, I disposed of them, and Mama just has her live babes tonight.


The little ones were wild when I checked on them but it was too dark to get pictures. They are crawling all over and under Mama, and she loves it!

So, the total is 4 new additions, very doable for the space I have. I know I’ve got at least one boy. If there are multiple boys, which I’m sure there will be, I will hang onto everyone until there is an issue, and will keep the nicest and most polite-to-his-ladies drake.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

They’re out of the nest!!! Mom is showing them the ropes, and everyone, including Mom, is eating and drinking well. I just sat with them in the stall for almost an hour after work getting the little ones accustomed to my presence.