mother ducks killing ducklings

[pamarkster]

I have 2 black sweeds and one silver they were all sitting on there nests first black sweed hatched 6 ducklings no problems the silver hatched 9 and the one black sweed that had the 6 killed 2 of them what's her problem

 

[sourland]

Is/was this her first brood of ducklings? After she killed the two is she raising the others? Were the two that she killed the same color as the others?

 

[pamarkster]

yes the 2 she killed were the same color as hers and it is her first brood

 

[sourland]

OK, I think that I miss read - the Swede killed two of the ducklings that belonged to the silver? If that is the case, some over protective mothers will attack ducklings that are not theirs. This is true of chicken hens as well as duck hens. The larger the area and the greater the possibility of the broods staying away from one another, the less likely this is to happen. Such mothers are likely to repeat this behavior with future broods.

 

[pamarkster]

Thank you

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you

It's best to have separate places for mamas and their ducklings. at least till ducklings are 2-4 weeks old.