Help, Ducklings left on their own tonite!

[GloriaH]

Most of the time I find Mama is all too happy to get rid of the babies. Take them at night if you think you will have a problem.

 

[bantymum]

Ok I think I have made a decision, Ill split them up so mumma still has a few and ill rehome the rest in their own nursery away from view of the others until they are bigger.
What is best time to do this at night??
Now i have to try and vent sex them so i will have girls and a few drakelings!!
ill start a thread on vent sexing as I have no idea.
Thanks,

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yes, nighttime is best, because they will be too groggy to really fight you at first. The cheep cheep cheeping is really enough to make you feel just awful. I think if you put them in a dark and quiet enclosure with warmth that they will settle down soon enough. Good luck with the vent sexing. That is something I have yet to get the nerve up to do!

 

[bantymum]

Thanks, with vent sexing I thought i would just have to look, if theres more involved, count me out!!!!
Yes im expecting to feel horrible, but they are left on their own most of the time and I can give them much more attantion. Ill see how i go!

 

[Katy]

I just thought I'd warn you that Momma probably won't be too happy whether you do it at night or during the day.....even if she's been acting like she doesn't care much anymore. Wear long sleeves! I've got one hen who "bites" the heck out of my arms when I take her ducklings....she still leaves bruises when I've got sleeves on, but she at least doesn't break the skin that way.

 

[bantymum]

Thanks Katy, well I did it, while the mum was out foraging with the drake I went in with my picnic basket, There was alot of stress on the mum,dad and kids however I grabbed them all and took them in, mumma duck carried on quacking loudly, i cant blame her, so I took 3 ducklings back to her and she settled straight away. I felt bad at first then i remembered that she is too small to keep 14 ducklings warm, actually its only 13 now as 1 of them didnt make it yesterday, he was the smallest out of all of them and just wasnt strong enough.
So I put them inside and the noise was deafening, however they settled down when I put the red light in there, and they are eating and drinking.
I put them in the outside laundry before nightfall in case they decided to squark all night, they are settled.
Tommorrow I plan to buy a dog fence that folds up so I can have out them out into the front yard and they can have a swim without mumma duck hearing them.
Im really excited about taming them and ill keep 2 girls and I have people waiting for the rest. I said I will let them go when they are grown.
Any advice now that im a mumma duck?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Well first, let me say congratulations momma duck!

Advice you probably already know -- don't let them near water that they can drown in. Be prepared for lots of mess & smell, especially as they get close to the age when they are big enough to sleep outside on their own. You can minimize the mess by raising their waterer up on a platform and by keeping the food outside the "splash zone." I know you said they would get outdoor time, but I would still provide a source of grit in their brooder. Take as much time every day as possible to give them treats (shredded greens for example), bath-time, outdoor time, and I would say also handling. I have always handled mine minimally, but the one that I handled the most is now my buddy. Get them used to sitting in your hand, while you sit with them, and eventually they may take to sitting in your lap. Keep them in their brooder at night until they are about a month old, at which time they will start to get more weather-proof feathers. I really can't think of anything else.

If it were me, I'd want the maternal momma duck to see that her babies were being cared for, especially since you plan to integrate a few back into the flock. She might hold it against you, but it might also make her feel like her offspring are being well cared for. That is my opinion anyway.

 

[Katy]

I agree you need to be watchful of them and their swimming water. A couple of paint tray pans work well and you don't have to worry about them not being able to get out and drowning. The sloped end of the trays makes it easy for them to walk in and out.

I don't agree that you need to let mom see they're being taken care of. Everytime you let them see or hear each other it's only going to stress them all over again.

I'm also really not into having them be lap pets. I want them tame enough so I can pick them up if I have to and they don't run in fear of me.

Ducklings don't need as much heat as chicks and so you'll probably find you'll be able to do away with the heat earlier....especially during the day. I'm not sure of your temps where you're at this time of year.

When they're the same size as the adults you should be able to reintroduce them without too much trouble. I usually pen the ones I'm reintroducing in a small pen in the larger pen for a few days so they can see each other. That seems to help them get their pecking order faster.

 

[bantymum]

Drakemaiden and Katy, thankyou for your wonderful hints.
Well Ive changed my mind again, I have put them out with mumma and they were all so happy it was lovely to watch.
The reason is I have MS and not the energy that I should have though I keep forgetting I have it until my legs go stupid, they did last night probably due to the stress!!
I was up with cramps all night and not much sleep.
Anyhow all is great now, a load has been lifted off my shoulders.
Im getting another extension power cord this morning so I can run the red brooder lamp in their shelter at night.
There is one little duckling that was grabbed by dad yesterday, he/she isnt as active as the others, so Ill watch him and if I need to i will adopt him!! here I go again!!
Anyhow, thankyou all so much for your support when I needed you!!!
Hugs, Helen

 

[Katy]

Sorry to hear about your MS.

I'd watch the drake...not to add to your stress level, but drakes will kill ducklings sometimes. Is there anyway you can separate them from him?