Mother duck smothering babies

[cornfedhogedito]

Day 4 of dead duckling removal. Besides taking all babies from mother what can I do to stop the body count? Some were just hatched and others were 1 or 2 days old. She sat on 18 and 3 were killed just after hatching 2 were day old. 1 found hole in fence and neighbors dog brought it back to me, albeit dead. Have 3 eggs left, 2 that might hatch 1 I found in the water dish ice cold, but I put it back in nest just in case.

She is very protective, but is starting to let me get next to babies without taking my arm off now! Small but she hits extremely hard!

Thanks

 

[Amiga]

I would bring them in and brood them.

PM Miss Lydia for some advice on that.

 

[TLWR]

Taking the ducklets is about the only thing you can do. If mom is killing them, either intentionally or a bunch accidentally, best not to leave them with her.

 

[cornfedhogedito]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks