Musccovy Ducklings

[sbolerjack]

My muscovy hen has been sitting on her eggs for 29 days. They should be hatching soon (approximately 6 days). I have her in a coop. Will she take care of the ducklings once they hatch, or do I need to? I have incubated and raised muscovy ducklings in the past but have absolutely NO experience with a hen hatching ducklings. Thanks!!!

 

[p4PaDuck x2]

You will have to somewhat care for the ducklings. When i get ducklings I give them dumor duck all life stages, and need access to drinking water. No bathing water at all. Not until the ducklings are feathered out. Make sure that mama is not attacking the ducklings if so you will have to brood the ducklings yourself.

 

[sbolerjack]

You will have to somewhat care for the ducklings. When i get ducklings I give them dumor duck all life stages, and need access to drinking water. No bathing water at all. Not until the ducklings are feathered out. Make sure that mama is not attacking the ducklings if so you will have to brood the ducklings yourself.

Thank you. I will feed and water. Do you think she will keep them warm? If not, I’ve got to get a brooder asap.

 

[ruthhope]

Mama Muscovy are generally attentive and good mothers.

Sometimes an inexperience muscovy Mama will need help to care for her brood.

Sometimes they will take against a duckling and ostracized it.

So you need to be attentive for 2-3 days as the ducklings hatching. As you have already been advised, the ducklings need feed, and drinking water but no bathing water at this stage. I use non-medicated starter crumbles. If she does well brooding her ducklings and keeping them warm for 3 days, you can relax as she should be OK

I don't wait until they are fully feathered to let ducklings have supervised swimming. But I am guided by the ambient temperature and how much sunshine there is. By three weeks old the ducklings need to be at around 80F but could bathe in full sun for 5 minutes and then dry off in full sun. I can do that at this time of year in Florida but elsewhere that might not be possible. By 6 weeks, all ducklings need to test their bouyancy and swimming skills briefly, most days. But they need a safe way to get in and out of the water -- i find a doormat over the side of a kiddie wading pool provides a long enough slope from the water and from the outside. But bathing should be supervised and not free access until the ducklings are 10-12 weeks and in full juvenile plumage

 

[sbolerjack]

Mama Muscovy are generally attentive and good mothers.

Sometimes an inexperience muscovy Mama will need help to care for her brood.

Sometimes they will take against a duckling and ostracized it.

So you need to be attentive for 2-3 days as the ducklings hatching. As you have already been advised, the ducklings need feed, and drinking water but no bathing water at this stage. I use non-medicated starter crumbles. If she does well brooding her ducklings and keeping them warm for 3 days, you can relax as she should be OK

I don't wait until they are fully feathered to let ducklings have supervised swimming. But I am guided by the ambient temperature and how much sunshine there is. By three weeks old the ducklings need to be at around 80F but could bathe in full sun for 5 minutes and then dry off in full sun. I can do that at this time of year in Florida but elsewhere that might not be possible. By 6 weeks, all ducklings need to test their bouyancy and swimming skills briefly, most days. But they need a safe way to get in and out of the water -- i find a doormat over the side of a kiddie wading pool provides a long enough slope from the water and from the outside. But bathing should be supervised and not free access until the ducklings are 10-12 weeks and in full juvenile plumage

Thank you.

 

[p4PaDuck x2]

Yea also since it is getting colder, I would provide a heat lamp so they have heat IF needed

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy have been good mamas main thing is give her and the duckling their own space until they are a couple weeks old but where everyone can still see them. Make sure to give them a water container they can’t climb into and not be able to get out of something similar to this you can make the holes smaller and cut them larger as the ducklings grow they just need to be able to dunk their heads. This one is actually for mama and I sit it up high enough only she can use it so none of the ducklings can get inside. one of these or 2 if you have many ducklings. Then mama gets one that is larger and placed on top of a couple bricks so the ducklings can't jump in. [They will if given the chance]This one in the bottom pic is for mama large holes.