Mother Duck now has 9 ducklings

[quesad00dle]

I have been keeping an eye on my oldest and broodiest duck
Since spring when she started setting a rather large clutch of eggs.
She is a Buff Opington and her mate is a Cayuga( a last minute
Replacement for my Buff Drake who was stolen from the duck house)
Only last night there were just eggs when I locked the ducks up for the
Night. About 10:30am this morning Mother Duck popped out of the Duck
House and let off a loud and joyous quack that was answered
By my two other juvenile Buff ducks. So I went and took a look
At the duck house and was amazed to find nine tiny fluffy ducklings
Chirping away at mom. I have put a waterer with rehydration salts in
The house ( 40c here in central Ontario Canada) but is there anything
Else I could do to help mom? I would like to leave the ducklings with
Mother Duck to raise.
Help. Scared first time ( human) duck parent.

 

[Valntyn]

Congratulations!!!! (I'll let others chime in with advice -- I'm a first time duckling-parent, myself!!)

 

[70%cocoa]

How wonderful!!!

One thing to do is make sure there are no water sources that pose a danger to the ducklings - so nothing with high sides that they can jump into and not get out of easily. Ducklings can really jump - don't underestimate them on the jumping front! You also need to give them some food suitable for babies - duck starter crumbles are great if you can get them but if not then chick starter with a sprinkle of brewer's yeast on top (or some people use game bird starter - no need for brewer's yeast if you use game bird starter). You can give them that till they are about 3 weeks old then switch to something with about 15-16% protein like pullet grower. Mother duck can eat the same as them. She and the ducklings will also enjoy chopped up greens (lettuce, young grass, spinach) in a shallow or small dish of water - they will dabble in the water for the greens.

The other thing to keep in mind are predators - as little ones they will be vulnerable to crows and cats plus all the usual predators of adult ducks. So if you can keep them in a secure coop that the bubs cannot get out of (with supervised free-ranging time) then that's ideal.

It's definitely best to leave them with Mother Duck to raise them. She will provide heat, entertainment, companionship and oil for their feathers. Sounds like she is being a wonderful mother already. You can leave them all together as a family till their mum gets tired of being a mum - might be 6 weeks or longer.

Another thing I do with newly hatched ducklings is put a soluble bird vitamin at half strength in their water for the first few days, so if you are able to pick some up easily then you can try that. The heat won't worry the ducklings too much as long as they have access to clean, cool water. You can put ice cubes in their water if you like.

I hope you really enjoy watching your little family grow.