Mallard Ducklings Hatched!! (Pic up now!)

[ducklover15]

When I went to check on my hen this morning I heard small peeping coming from shed! When I went in to see her I saw 5 heads poking up from her sides!! I've seen at least 6 ducklings so far. She had 10 eggs so I'm hoping all 10 made it.

How long will it be until she decides to lead them outside? I had her brooding 6 call eggs and I want to be ready to take them and put them in the incubator when she decides she's done being broody.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Congratulations on your new ducklings!!!!!!!

 

[beakkeeper]

Mommy's sayin' "ain't they cute? Now get outta my nest 'fore I eat you!"

So cute!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Good girl, momma!!

I sure wish one of my ducks would go broody. I hate the mess in the incubator when they hatch!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
How far behind are the call eggs? The reason I ask is that SOME ducks hate to leave the nest as long as there are viable eggs left to hatch. So if your call eggs are too far behind her babies you are going to have to risk her wrath to get your call eggs back! normally she leads her clutch away from the nest 12-24 hours after the last egg hatches and the ducklings are dry and fluffy by then. It also depends to some extent to the outside weather as she doesn't want them wet and chilled. We know from the duckling shippers that they can go 3 days without water or feed as they live off the yolk at first. She looks like she could bite so good luck.

 

[ducklover15]

She's pretty gentle and hasn't bitten me yet. I picked her up and moved her today to see why the last mallards haven't hatched yet. She has 4 eggs that have yet to hatch so I'm wondering if she's waiting for those.

The calls are only on day 11 so they still have awhile to go. I candled them yesterday and they are looking great. I don't want to keep her from leaving the nest so if she doesn't leave by tomorrow I'll grab the calls form her.

Thanks guys! =] She has a really cute yellow one that I decided to keep!!

 

[LauraSBale]

that really sweet, how exciting

 

[WriterofWords]

Cute!! I love quackers. I'm glad she hasn't bitten you, my broody Midnight with the chicks and ducklings has beat me to pieces and I have bruises up and down my arm from trying to supply food and water!

 

[ducklover15]

Wow! I'm glad she hasn't been aggressive. My mom and I hold food and water up to her a few times a day so she doesn't have to move much.

Oh I have one more question, the eggs that haven't hatched yet, should I just wait or assume they're dead? I candled one and I saw no pipping.

 

[WriterofWords]

I leave them there until she kicks them out. She started hatching the chicks a week ago today, the ducks started hatching a few days later and they are hatching very staggard.