Mother abandoned ducklings?

[CoconutCoffee]

Last year I inherited a breeding pair of mallards and about 3-4 weeks ago she hatched out 7 ducklings. The past few days though I haven't even seen them while the parents are out in the yard and pools. Early this morning I finally saw them again on a fluke almost. For a minute I was actually thinking all the ducklings died somehow as I haven't seen or heard them at all. They're apparently underneath a shed so Im at least able to feed them. I'm pretty new to ducks so I don't know if this is normal for them or not as babies get older?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Usually around 3-4 weeks the moms start getting ready to send the kids on their way. If you can get them into a fenced in area where they can be kept safe until older that should save their lives. If mama isn't even staying with them at night they are going to end up predator food most likely. If you have a coop mom and dad use you can section off some of it to keep the ducklings in until they are older also. Sometimes drakes don't care for ducklings.

 

[CoconutCoffee]

Usually around 3-4 weeks the moms start getting ready to send the kids on their way. If you can get them into a fenced in area where they can be kept safe until older that should save their lives. If mama isn't even staying with them at night they are going to end up predator food most likely. If you have a coop mom and dad use you can section off some of it to keep the ducklings in until they are older also. Sometimes drakes don't care for ducklings.

Thank you. I thought they stayed together until they're feathered out or closer to it than this. I'm not sure if the mom stays with them at night or not. I'll try to be on the lookout for that though.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Some will stay around for 4-6 weeks but most of my mamas have started losing interest around 3-4 weeks. I have one Muscovy who adopted the other 2 moms ducklings when they quit at 3 weeks and she kept hers and theirs for 5 weeks total.

Sounds like these ducks are pretty much on their own? no safe place for nighttime?

 

[CoconutCoffee]

Some will stay around for 4-6 weeks but most of my mamas have started losing interest around 3-4 weeks. I have one Muscovy who adopted the other 2 moms ducklings when they quit at 3 weeks and she kept hers and theirs for 5 weeks total.

Sounds like these ducks are pretty much on their own? no safe place for nighttime?

Yes, the previous owners just let them go wherever they felt. I've caught them in the chicken coop a handful of times but they run out when I'm out to lock them all up and they fly off when I try to round them up to go in the coop myself. There's a fenced in area with a lot of coverage and hiding spots for them but nothing that'd stop a predator unless you count the pig (also inherited from the same people).

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh my a pig too lol. I think they would eat ducklings I saw they will eat chickens. That’s too bad you can’t at least keep the ducklings safe until they can fly for protection. Do the parents stay around full time?

 

[CoconutCoffee]

Oh my a pig too lol. I think they would eat ducklings I saw they will eat chickens. That’s too bad you can’t at least keep the ducklings safe until they can fly for protection. Do the parents stay around full time?

The pig is pretty chill all around and I've never seen any aggression towards any of the birds. She's a pot belly. The previous owners are a trip, I was only supposed to watch her for a month and that was almost a year ago. So she's mine now, lol, I'm learning as I go with her and the ducks. The ducklings stay pretty hidden but I would prefer more peace of mind on knowing where they're at and that something can't get to them easily. Chickens are so much easier, at least I can move them at night if need be. The parents are typically close by, yeah. I'm going to try and see if the mom is with the ducklings at night, last night was storming so couldn't tell.