Help, Ducklings left on their own tonite!

[bantymum]

Ok, thanks Im going to give this a try!
Ill keep you posted.

 

[bantymum]

I just went out again and she is now sitting on them all with her wings over them. So ill get to bed cause its now 1.17am and im really tired. Ill get into action tommorrow.
I may even be able to leave them all in with mum in the enclosure but have backup heating installed as well?????

 

[Katy]

This is one of thereasons I take mine away when they hatch. As a rule ducks don't brood their ducklings like a chicken does. I'm surprised she's done it this long.

 

[bantymum]

Wow, i didnt realise this, any suggestions for their care, should I make their run away from mummas view, I dont want her stressing all day for them.
Its now 6.47 am, ive had 4 1/2 hours sleep and not running at full capacity.

 

[Katy]

When mine hatch I brood them in the garage for a couple of weeks. By that time momma usually doesn't care anymore. Then I move them to a pen closer to the adults outside. I don't reintroduce them to the adult pens until they are the same size as the adults.

 

[bantymum]

Thanks Katy, I really did not realise that they left them. Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[GloriaH]

Hello Down Under! I raise Welsh Harliquin Ducks and always hand raise them. After hatching I put them in a large plastic box and bring them in. Plastic is easy to keep clean. After a couple of weeks I put them outside in a bathtub that DH made a cover for. Then they go in there own cage untill they are big enough to go in with the adults. Gotta love them baby ducks.

 

[bantymum]

Sounds like a good idea especially as I wont be keeping them all, It will be nicer for the new owners if they are
"easy to pat" and i want a tame one too.
Is it too late to take them away though, they are 12 days old?
Ill need to brood them, i have a red light for soothing warmth.
Any thoughts, I guess mama duck will go ape if I go in there and ducknap the kids.
If I put a black cloth over her head she wont know where I am! thats how they handle ostriches!!!
Ive had late nights worrying about these guys, and ive got my dear little boy to entertain so I have to get organised here really quickly so I can get on with day to day stuff.
So do I go out there and ducknap them?
Have them in brooder at night and in their little day run with pool during the day!

 

[chickengirlnm]

Sounds like if you have them in the house with you at night you might get more sleep - you wont be worring so much over the little guys and like yousaid if they are used to you handling them they will be alot nicer. but I am not expert on ducks but I think if I were you I would bring the little guys inside house and spoil them rotten and find them great homes when they are old enough.
Good luck hope someone here can give you the perfect solution.

 

[bantymum]

Thankyou, I dont want to bring them in cause I know they will cheep cheep for hours.
I do have a little outhouse which is a spacious laundry with powerpoints etc. they can go in there if need be however I do think I can build them a nice nighthouse with the brooder lamp outside. They dont have much warmth out there at present, only each other and mumma duck is back on them again!!!