Mama duck killing babies?

[NellyCrowe]

I have already read over a previous text regarding dead ducklings both partially and fully hatched out. Here is my story thus far:

Separated drake and second hen from broody hen after two viable eggs were caved in. Both were very close to hatching.


Yesterday found smashed in egg (ready to hatch) and this morning a dead hatched out duckling. Suspecting Mama (buff runner).

I have a broody Buff Orpington hen. Should I cage her and let her sit with eggs?

Give the eggs to the other Mama duck and put drake in with runner?

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Nelly

 

[casportpony]

Do you have an incubator?

 

[Weeg]

I had the exact same scenario happen to me, except in the end, a unsuccessful hatch. There are two possibilities one, you have a white momma right, and the dead duckling is a colored duckling. She is racist, and every colored ducklings she hatches out, she doesn't recognize as her own, and kills it.
Two, the eggs never hatched at all. Instead, the momma realized they were dead in the shell fully formed, she cracks the eggs, eats the egg shell and tosses the duckling as not to lure predators to her nest. If the second one is the case, then we need to find th ereaon for the deaths if not naturally. Is she separated from the rest of the flock? Is could cause stress and maybe someone else caused her to smash the egg? I would leave her with the eggs for a chicken will not be as good a mother for she can only fit so man duck eggs under her. But give us s bit more info on your set up, to help determine the situation. I hope to all works out! Avery

 

[NellyCrowe]

I separated the drake and other hen after I found eggs being smashed in.

And yes - the babies are all dark. She is light. Is this a for real scenario? This really happens?

She's desperate to be with the drake.

If I had an incubator this would be an easy fix, but no - I do not. I don't raise ducks as a business. One of the hens I bought turned out to be a drake and now a year later I have eggs wanting to hatch out and Mama killing them.

 

[NellyCrowe]

The dead duckling was a foot away from the nest.

If all these ducklings are dead in the egg we're at almost zero survival rate.

 

[NellyCrowe]

Also .... the egg was crushed in - the duck still inside. Three of those thus far. One dead hatched out duckling.

 

[Weeg]

Yes, this is a real scenario, the second one happened to me, I've heard that Racism happens to other people too. but, to determine which possibility is is most likely, how long has it been since you found the ducklings, and what day are you on for incubation?

 

[NellyCrowe]

The fully hatched duckling was this morning. The smashed-in eggs are about one every day or every other day. I’ve taken three eggs that look like they are close to hatching and made an impromptu incubator out of a heat lamp. Misting every hour.

I spoke to a woman who raises various fowl and was told for first time duck moms it’s not uncommon for them to not know what’s going on and kill strange birds out of instinct.

 

[Weeg]

Yes, it is uncommon, but still possible. Good idea with the incubator, and if the duckling you found this morning was alive, and killed rather than tossed, than the rest of the eggs should hatch within 24 hours. So only time will tell. What day of the incubation period are you on, ducklings usually hatch in four weeks or 28 days? Or how many weeks in an estimate has she been sitting?

 

[Finnie]

How long has the Orpington chicken been broody? If it’s been a week or two, then it’s safe to put the remaining eggs under her. Just make sure she is isolated with them, so you don’t get chickens interfering and ruining the hatch. I have had chickens hatch and raise ducklings.