Momma duck raising ducklings

[Afroggie4u]

Ok my runner duck has justed hatched 11 duckling 2 days ago and the all are doing great. One egg is cracked but didnt hatch yet. Should I leave the egg or remove it? Also I have them separated in their pen from other ducks and chickens. When would it be safe to let them out with other birds? I free range everyone during the day and lock them in the pen at night. Or should I build a separate outside area for momma and ducklings until they are older? Also I'm concerned about her being a runner and I have not read good things about runners being good mothers but so far so good. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well Congrats on those new ducklings. I hope you'll share some pictures. I'd defiantly keep mama and ducklings from the rest of the flock for a few weeks. But where they can all see each other.
Hey for you to even get a Runner to sit still longer enough to hatch 11 ducklings is awesome so I'd def give her a chance to see how she does as a mama.

Can you candle that cracked egg to see if the duckling is still alive that way you'll know whether to remove it. Or maybe just listening to the egg if the ducklings has external pipped you may hear peeping.

 

[PirateGirl]

Is the mama still sitting on the nest a lot? The egg that is cracked will need her to stay warm and moist etc. to be able to hatch. If she is out and about with the ducklings most of the time you might need to take the egg.

Also I agree that you should candle. It may have pipped and then died, it may have gotten cracked in all the hubbub of the others hatching. Definitely take a look. If it’s still alive you want it to have the best chance possible. If it’s dead, you’ll want it out of there before it stinks and the bacteria contaminated the whole nest.

 

[Afroggie4u]

Well Congrats on those new ducklings. I hope you'll share some pictures. I'd defiantly keep mama and ducklings from the rest of the flock for a few weeks. But where they can all see each other.
Hey for you to even get a Runner to sit still longer enough to hatch 11 ducklings is awesome so I'd def give her a chance to see how she does as a mama.

Can you candle that cracked egg to see if the duckling is still alive that way you'll know whether to remove it. Or maybe just listening to the egg if the ducklings has external pipped you may hear peeping.

Well Congrats on those new ducklings. I hope you'll share some pictures. I'd defiantly keep mama and ducklings from the rest of the flock for a few weeks. But where they can all see each other.
Hey for you to even get a Runner to sit still longer enough to hatch 11 ducklings is awesome so I'd def give her a chance to see how she does as a mama.

Can you candle that cracked egg to see if the duckling is still alive that way you'll know whether to remove it. Or maybe just listening to the egg if the ducklings has external pipped you may hear peeping.

I tried to listen but heard no peeping. I have tried to candle and I dont do so well at it. I have read runner dont make good mothers so I'm surprised she's doing so good.

 

[Afroggie4u]

Is the mama still sitting on the nest a lot? The egg that is cracked will need her to stay warm and moist etc. to be able to hatch. If she is out and about with the ducklings most of the time you might need to take the egg.

Also I agree that you should candle. It may have pipped and then died, it may have gotten cracked in all the hubbub of the others hatching. Definitely take a look. If it’s still alive you want it to have the best chance possible. If it’s dead, you’ll want it out of there before it stinks and the bacteria contaminated the whole nest.

Yes she is still sitting on the nest but does get up to eat and drink. I put food and water near her nest for her and the babies. Also when I look in the crack it looks like the baby is still moving. I have never hatched eggs before but I have read that some help crack the shells and others say dont. Not sure if the baby is having issues or it was laid later. Thanks for the reply.

 

[PirateGirl]

Yes she is still sitting on the nest but does get up to eat and drink. I put food and water near her nest for her and the babies. Also when I look in the crack it looks like the baby is still moving. I have never hatched eggs before but I have read that some help crack the shells and others say dont. Not sure if the baby is having issues or it was laid later. Thanks for the reply.

If it was me (personal choice here) I would steal the egg and check to see if it is still alive or not. If it is still alive, I would put it back under the mama.

I will say I have only hatched ducklings once and it was under a broody and some did not survive/hatch. I am more of a hands off type person and believe that if they can't hatch on their own, perhaps there is a reason for it, and perhaps there is a genetic problem/health problem of some sort. I am not one for assisting greatly as I believe this is nature's way of sorting out issues and avoiding severely handicapped poultry that may be suffering in their own ways.

I am not saying that assisted hatching is wrong. I'm just offering my own perspective and something to think about. If the duckling is still alive, then it's got a good chance. If it has externally pipped, you should be able to see the beak through the hole. You may be able to peel back just a little bit of shell near the beak to give him a better chance. Hatching is exhausting.

Definitely take a look (and take a photo if you can) to see what's going on.

 

[Afroggie4u]

If it was me (personal choice here) I would steal the egg and check to see if it is still alive or not. If it is still alive, I would put it back under the mama.

I will say I have only hatched ducklings once and it was under a broody and some did not survive/hatch. I am more of a hands off type person and believe that if they can't hatch on their own, perhaps there is a reason for it, and perhaps there is a genetic problem/health problem of some sort. I am not one for assisting greatly as I believe this is nature's way of sorting out issues and avoiding severely handicapped poultry that may be suffering in their own ways.

I am not saying that assisted hatching is wrong. I'm just offering my own perspective and something to think about. If the duckling is still alive, then it's got a good chance. If it has externally pipped, you should be able to see the beak through the hole. You may be able to peel back just a little bit of shell near the beak to give him a better chance. Hatching is exhausting.

Definitely take a look (and take a photo if you can) to see what's going on.

Ok, thank you. I will try to take a picture.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Following, as one of my Runner ducks is devotedly sitting on nine eggs for ~ two weeks and i will have to make similar decisions soon.

 

[Afroggie4u]

Following, as one of my Runner ducks is devotedly sitting on nine eggs for ~ two weeks and i will have to make similar decisions soon.

Well mine sat once before until a chicken took her nest and she gave up, this time she him her nest from the chicken.

 

[Afroggie4u]