Indian Runner Ducks hatching problems, please advise!

[GratitudeGates]

The dogs is what worried me but maybe a dog X pen staked to the ground with extra fencing around it to keep the ducklings in would work. I know my dogs and ducklings don't work here being in the same area.

Our dog is a good boy I am more worried about cats hearing the peeping and birds of prey around our home. I got them all moved and settled. Thanks so much everyone !!!

 

[GratitudeGates]

I never move my Ducks during hatching. She will remain on the nest till all hatch. Then I remove her and Ducklings to a safe pen..

I had to move her and she has another egg as I had removed eggs as she was sitting but must of missed the two. I saw how upset she was so i left the two eggs for her. I do not know if the last one will hatch or not but she is sure proud of her baby.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just happy it worked out. Now we need pictures.

 

[GratitudeGates]

Miss Lydia - I have a few more questions especially since most of the info I find is not about a duck naturally doing the parenting. The baby is two days old a single baby the egg that was left was very light weight so thinking it was not going to hatch no matter how long she sat on over 30 days. So I did remove it. I had to move her private pen set up again due to ants. I moved her under the deck and where she could hear her sisters in their pen. She was really upset with the move but I had to do it. We hope to install a camera above her pen today so we can keep and eye on her. I did get some images yesterday but did not want to stress her any further. My question is..... will she get so upset she would abandon the baby? If I allow her out of the pen without the baby will it be a nightmare? I have a huge male cayuga who is stunning and I am worried he might snip at the baby as he does snip at everyone. Most of all I need to keep that baby in a pen with small enough wire to keep cats from getting. This was a picture of the pen we got from Amazon and it has worked well if anyone is looking for a super safe pen that is easy to fold up and store. We are going to head out to get baby starter fowl food is there anything else I need and I do use brewers yeast in the food.

 

[GratitudeGates]

Also... her siblings and she usually have free range of our yard about 1/2 acre in grass with three chickens. At what point is it safe to let her join her flock with the baby? I am thinking until the baby is big enough to stay in their pen safely it is not smart to let her around the others for sure but they all can come to the pen she is in now to see and get use to it. I noticed before having to move the pen that the other ducks and the chickens were going over to take a peek at the baby. I am thinking at least 3 weeks old. Your thoughts?? and that is based on their behavior if someone is nasty. Chickens are wayyyyyy more nasty at times I have not seen that in my ducks other than the male who is just protecting them. Baby Pansy pic to follow after mom Dandi-Lion calms down.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your ducks are gorgeous. For me it has always been better to err on the side of caution with mamas and ducklings or mamas and chicks I make it so they can all see each other but the adults cannot physically touch the babies. For at least 2-3 weeks I have large geese too so usually it's 3 weeks here. Then the babes are able to get away faster if someone has a mind to do any picking.
Chick starter and Brewers yeast or nutritional yeast are fine my preference is nutritional yeast it has more niacin in it. Mom can eat it too. Hopefully with that nice pen you have for the 2 of them mama will be content to stay with Pansy[cute name] and Dandi-Lion how precious. It's all quite new to everyone so it takes time for everyone to get use to a new addition. You have such a nice place for them all lots of room I am sure it won't take much time to get everyone use to each other. Now the drake may have more difficulty since right now they are prime hormonal stage so you'll have to watch for that. Another reason to let them all see each other but not touch.

 

[GratitudeGates]

Miss Lydia thanks so much for your help I got two bottles of nutritional yeast today to add to baby food and will switch over once I finish my huge container of brewers yeast with garlic. Dandi-Lion has calmed down and I DO NOT want to have to move her again. She is about 5 feet from her flock and they have visited her today as they were running free so did the chickens my husband moved a cam out there so we can keep an eye without bugging her. I also added a ferret litter box that fits in the corner so Dandi-Lion has water but not so deep the baby can get into the thing. Things are going well...thank you for helping guide me thru this exciting time. We just love the critters we have and are constantly learning. I am glad she only has one duckling as it makes her feel happy and we can keep it. I thank you so much I am so grateful to have this site to learn from. Bless your heart Thank you.

 

[GratitudeGates]

That is a picture of Dandi-Lion when she was younger and the drake Nolan who is stunning...and their new baby Pansy...she/he is the cutest. Thanks again for so much helpful advice.

 

[GratitudeGates]

That is a picture of Dandi-Lion when she was younger and the drake Nolan who is stunning...and their new baby Pansy...she/he is the cutest. Thanks again for so much helpful advice.

a quick video of Baby Pansy and Dandi-Lion her very proud mom from the cam we set up...so fun to watch them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is a picture of Dandi-Lion when she was younger and the drake Nolan who is stunning...and their new baby Pansy...she/he is the cutest. Thanks again for so much helpful advice.

Gorgeous pics.