JUNE - JULY HATCH-ALONG!!!!!!!

[CluckNDoodle]

The smaller ducks are not wanting to accept the newest baby duckling; two of them started pecking at the poor thing. Its so sad, because it is all alone in its incubator now(with a small cup of water and a small cup of food.. I had today off from work and so I brought the duckling out of its incubator a couple of times and rubbed its breast with my thumb. It seems to like that btw. But I can't guarantee I will have tomorrow or the next day off, so I don't know what to do.

Even if there's only one other duckling that accepts the newbie I would put them together so it's not alone.

 

[two j farm]

They're so cute! I'm sorry about the 2 you lost! Was the other hen being aggressive toward them or did she just accidentally step on them?[/QUO

Beautiful babies!!! What breed are they? Wow, so sad that another hen attacked her chicks???

they are mixed breed. The other mama is a B. She jumps on anything that gets around her or her babies. I moved her and her babies so everyone is safe now.

 

[Enigmius]

Ugh. I've tried. I dunno if it is the stress from moving them from one brooder to another, but none are nice to it. I moved all into the baby pool brooder and put the baby into the bathtub, but its just crying and crying. Its probably crying because it is a lot bigger and stranger than its incubator box though.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yes, the pullets have white spots on their heads.



Yes, this lady has really nice CCLs but my other source has chicks that are SUPER easy to pick out pullet from roo. These I have to look a little harder but I can still sex them.

I have at least 3 pullets! I just saw them lined up next to each other, lol. I think I may only have 1 roo from this hatch and he already has a home!

Wow, that’s so awesome that you found a place for your little roo!!!

 

[jolenesdad]

Ugh. I've tried. I dunno if it is the stress from moving them from one brooder to another, but none are nice to it. I moved all into the baby pool brooder and put the baby into the bathtub, but its just crying and crying. Its probably crying because it is a lot bigger and stranger than its incubator box though.

Is the bathtub out of sight of the others? I would try again with another in the bathtub if you haven’t done that already.

If that doesn’t work, see if you can get a feather duster or stuffed animal and a mirror for company.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Ugh. I've tried. I dunno if it is the stress from moving them from one brooder to another, but none are nice to it. I moved all into the baby pool brooder and put the baby into the bathtub, but its just crying and crying. Its probably crying because it is a lot bigger and stranger than its incubator box though.

Your duckling needs companions, and most of us aren’t up for the responsibilities of a house duck! So you need to get him in with siblings... I’m struggling to get all of these late hatching keets integrated with the older ones as well. As my looong hatch goes on, this gets trickier (thus the food all over the brooder - new keets don’t use a feeder so well). I’m putting the newly hatched keets into a box on a heating pad within the brooder but off to the side, away from the heating lamp, thus the heating pad. I introduce a few times until it “sticks”. Since you don’t have a mass of 30+ babies for him to disappear into, I think your intro may be a little harder but similar considerations should apply. You want a way to separate but keep warm and with food and water, but with ducklings visible to each other. I bet that your ducklings are young enough to accept him pretty quickly that way. I’d keep trying everyday to introduce... Also, shaking up the location can be a big help. Like, if you have an outside pen, taking them all out there together can keep your older ducklings from feeling territorial about this intruder in “their” space...

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

they are mixed breed. The other mama is a B. She jumps on anything that gets around her or her babies. I moved her and her babies so everyone is safe now.

Glad that she’s a good mom at least! Congrats again in your successes!!!

 

[Enigmius]

I tried just one on the other side of the hwcloth, but the older duck was mad. I put older ducks together and they are much more quiet. I am worried about the HWCloth fence. I just don’t know if it will prevent the other two from findings way under and killing my baby duckling.
Ps. Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean out in a bit.

 

[jolenesdad]

I tried just one on the other side of the hwcloth, but the older duck was mad. I put older ducks together and they are much more quiet. I am worried about the HWCloth fence. I just don’t know if it will prevent the other two from findings way under and killing my baby duckling.
Ps. Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean out in a bit.

In that situation I would honestly try just one older duck.

“ Freak out then, older duckie. I know where you can find companionship.... this one little duck right here. It’s your only choice.”

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I tried just one on the other side of the hwcloth, but the older duck was mad. I put older ducks together and they are much more quiet. I am worried about the HWCloth fence. I just don’t know if it will prevent the other two from findings way under and killing my baby duckling.
Ps. Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean out in a bit.

Geez, those guys are HUGE!!! Are those the next up in size from your little guy? I’ll stop going on about size disparity in one week old guinea keets now!!! My hard-headed motto, honestly, is to keep trying stuff until something works... I do feel like this a lot though! Jolenesdad’s suggestion is a good one as well, to try an individual duckling who will get desperate enough to accept companionship from this mini invader!!!