Introducing Incubated Duckling to a Nesting Mama

[Jego]

I had an incubated duck egg hatch today. I have a mama with a nest of eggs that *should* be hatching any day now.

I tried putting the duckling onto the nest when mama was eating, but it didn't fool her. She just looked confused. She still tried to clean it up, but daddy duck was ticked and tried to peck at the duckling.

I removed the duckling immediately because I didn't want it harmed. Then, I read about how Mama vocalizes while she's sitting and the ducklings get accustomed to her voice.

Crap. What did I just do?

Now Mama is ticked off and won't stop quacking. I'm not really sure what I should do to fix this. I don't want Mama stressed. I don't want baby harmed. Will the dad be an abusive lout after the other ducklings hatch, too?

 

[sourland]

I would definitely separate the drake before the ducklings hatch, and I would not try to introduce the duckling before they hatch. Doing so may cause the hen to stop incubating.

 

[Jego]

I would definitely separate the drake before the ducklings hatch, and I would not try to introduce the duckling before they hatch. Doing so may cause the hen to stop incubating.

Ok, thank you.