Mallard Hen STILL Broody....

[MallardMama19]

Hey Everyone! Have a question for y'all. My mama hen laid and hatched her first clutch of 9 ducklings about 6 weeks ago now! She is a wonderful mama, however, she is still broody! She has made some improvements, she is eating treats out of my hand again, and is no longer chasing the ducks away from her 3 littles (I only kept 3, the other 6 found a loving home all together) HOWEVER, she is still going after my chickens to the point of pulling feathers from their tail if they get too close to her ducklings (my 6 chickens are almost 18wks). She never had an issue with them UNTIL the ducklings hatched. She will also try to charge me (will put her head real low and like bob/peck it forward toward me while squeaking) She started laying an egg a day about 3 weeks ago, but will continue to hide it from me in the nest, or cover the nest before getting out for the day.
She is housed with her 3 younglings, but is separated from the 3 male ducks ( 1 adult, and 2 16wk males ) and is also separated from the 6 chickens at night, however they all free range during the day when I'm home. I'm wondering how long she'll be broody for, I miss my sweet sweet Mama.

Below is a picture the day all 9 hatched!

 

[AltonaAcres]

What do you mean still broody? Is she still sitting? If so, how are the ducklings finding food, water, foraging, etc?

 

[MallardMama19]

I guess she is just more cranky/ possessive. She is no longer sitting on the nest but will hide the egg she laid that day in the nest before she gets off. The ducklings are 6wks old now and are thriving. When they are out for the day of the chickens or anyone else get too close to her ducklings she’ll squawk and try to go after the chickens, she has plucked a few tail feathers from some.

 

[AltonaAcres]

She could just be hormonal because she's a relatively new mom. Is she out foraging during the day? Maybe if she was locked out of the coop and she had to be out foraging, her mind would be off broodiness.

 

[MallardMama19]

She could just be hormonal because she's a relatively new mom. Is she out foraging during the day? Maybe if she was locked out of the coop and she had to be out foraging, her mind would be off broodiness.

I've never locked her out of her run, but she does go out and forage throughout the day, she just gets a little 'up tight' or moody if anyone other than ducks get close to her littles, she also gets possessive over the pool, no one is aloud to swim with her or her babies, otherwise she'll show them..... I'll try keeping the run shut during the day when everyone is out. Thank you!

 

[AltonaAcres]

Sure! That may work.......................My broody hens are always like that. Mama Bears. Don't mess with the babies or she'll mess with you! After awhile once babies are mostly grown she'll start calming down. And soon ignore her babies all together.

 

[Fayed]

Sounds pretty normal to me, she's just protecting her babies. I've had mom's continue to protect until the babes were nearly full grown. Each momma is different with how long they treat the babies as helpless. I've also had ones that after two weeks decide they are done careing for them.

 

[Fayed]

Mallards are also insanely protective, I had to put mine down after she lost her babies cause she went nutso.

 

[MallardMama19]

thanks guys!!! I think we’re getting there... I just didn’t realize it would take so long. ( this is only my second year with ducks and first time with a hatching.) She will leave them to forage by herself, but keep them within eyesight. The ducklings themselves will go forage but if they all of sudden can’t see her they’ll holler and she’ll come a running. I guess I should be great full she is a good mama, my poor chickens though... lol, they avoid her at all costs now.

 

[MallardMama19]

Mallards are also insanely protective, I had to put mine down after she lost her babies cause she went nutso.

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear this. I didn’t find anything about that when researching them before I purchased. Just that they can be “broody” that would have Been a nicer tidbit to know prior. I do have an adult drake that is protective of her (mama) his name is Big J (short for Big Jerk) and will go after everyone, even my dog, if they get too close. He has since gotten better, but he’s waddling on a very thin line. Lol.