How to introduce ducklings to hen

[tanithcrane]

Hello i have been incubating duck eggs and i just wanted to know how i would introduce them to the hen duck once hatched she looses interest in sitting on nest but i think she would take them in once introduced of course i would be very vigilante incase she rejects them or tries to harm them i want her to mother them as they will be going to a freind once grown and they have a lake with duck house in middle they will be fed but they will be partially wild as they will just have the duck house in middle of lake and i want them to be weary of predators and to have some kind of wild instincts.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really don't think your going to get your female duck to accept ducklings unless she broods and hatches them herself. They are not like a chicken in that respect.

 

[tanithcrane]

I really don't think your going to get your female duck to accept ducklings unless she broods and hatches them herself. They are not like a chicken in that respect.

Its a shame that shes not very broody i have two speckledy chickens would one of them adopt them or if i did raise them myself would they be ok to be put on the lake theres a house in the middle for them and theres another duck living there which is freindly and recently lost its freind
Thankyou for the help

 

[Lil Drake40]

Are either of your chickens broody? That’s the only way they would possibly adopt. What breed are you brooding. Will they also be fending for themselves because they are not going to have the instincts of their wild Mallard cousins .

 

[tanithcrane]

Its hard to tell at the moment they sometimes sit on the nest they are indian runners and aylesburys they will be living on a lake with a duck house in the middle and will be fed daily

 

[Lil Drake40]

I am not one to advise about living on a lake with a house I assume will not be locked up over night? Predators will swim for an easy meal all kinds of preds .Neither of these breeds can fly to escape either they will literally be sitting ducks

 

[PirateGirl]

From what I understand, your best timing to try and get a broody duck to adopt ducklings is 2-fold. 1. when the ducklings are as little/young as possible and 2. after the broody has been sitting on the eggs/nest for 24 days or more (when her eggs would normally be hatching) It may or may not work. I've read of other members who have gotten it to work, and I can say I am one who failed and I had to keep the ducklings in my house until they were old enough/big enough to go outdoors. It really depends on the duck.