How do I integrate ducklings I hatched with the ones mom hatched?

[holliewog]

I ended up hatching four of the eggs indoors - they got stepped on, shell peeled off and one baby kicked out of the nest before my muscovy hen realized that the cheeping interlopers were not who had been stealing her eggs.

They are now 2 weeks old, and they have play time together but I would like to get them back with mom - she is a better mom than I am.

Any suggestions ? Currently mom is has dog crate walls surrounding her nest to keep out the big ducks. There is room for them all.

The four will soon be needing more outdoor time and my schedule wont allow it.

Thanks for any suggestions and help
Hollie

here is mom with most of hers and mine.

 

[Amiga]

Slow introductions are usually best - perhaps @Going Quackers or @Miss Lydia have some ideas.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I ended up hatching four of the eggs indoors - they got stepped on, shell peeled off and one baby kicked out of the nest before my muscovy hen realized that the cheeping interlopers were not who had been stealing her eggs.

They are now 2 weeks old, and they have play time together but I would like to get them back with mom - she is a better mom than I am.

Any suggestions ? Currently mom is has dog crate walls surrounding her nest to keep out the big ducks. There is room for them all.

The four will soon be needing more outdoor time and my schedule wont allow it.

Thanks for any suggestions and help
Hollie

here is mom with most of hers and mine.

They are so pretty, how is mom with them when they are all together? if she doesn't mind them during the day all you can do is try at night put them together and see what happens if she starts picking on them then you'll just have to try a different approach by putting up a fence of some kind so your babies can be with mama and hers but not where injury can happen.

 

[holliewog]

Thank you Miss Lydia

The only problem i have during the day is that she ignores them and if she wants to go somewhere she divides them and takes hers with her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you Miss Lydia

The only problem i have during the day is that she ignores them and if she wants to go somewhere she divides them and takes hers with her.

I think if your temps are warm enough I would keep mom and yours together but separate. can you do that? That way you won't have to worry about her getting upset and hurting one of them or all. My Scovy girls do not recognize their babies if they have to be taken from them longer than over night. Thankfully I have only had to do that once and it was over night and mom took the duckling back. it just to iffy. Keeping them all close though will help towards getting them all together once they are old enough to be with the flock.

 

[holliewog]

yeah, it is getting chilly at night here already ...I guess endless poop cleaning for a while lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

yeah, it is getting chilly at night here already ...I guess endless poop cleaning for a while lol

Just part of having these precious ones. let us know how everyone is doing.