Muscovy ducklings on the way... HELP.

[Murphmichael]

I have 3 female muscovy ducks sitting on clutches of eggs in three separate spots in my barn.... they should all be hatching around the same time... If I were to relocate the 2 nests into the stall that the other female has her nest after all the ducklings have hatched, will the females be okay with this? Or will they be too protective over their own and fight each other??

My logic is that it would be ideal for all three moms to raise their ducklings together and for the young to form one group instead of having three separate groups that don't interact... I also need to keep them in stalls for awhile to keep them away from barn cats that tend to be my biggest predator to baby ducklings...

Has anyone tried this before?

 

[chickens really]

I have 3 female muscovy ducks sitting on clutches of eggs in three separate spots in my barn.... they should all be hatching around the same time... If I were to relocate the 2 nests into the stall that the other female has her nest after all the ducklings have hatched, will the females be okay with this? Or will they be too protective over their own and fight each other??

My logic is that it would be ideal for all three moms to raise their ducklings together and for the young to form one group instead of having three separate groups that don't interact... I also need to keep them in stalls for awhile to keep them away from barn cats that tend to be my biggest predator to baby ducklings...

Has anyone tried this before?

You would be best to wait till they hatch..Then move. It all depends on the Hens if they will raise Ducklings together?..

 

[casportpony]

I have 3 female muscovy ducks sitting on clutches of eggs in three separate spots in my barn.... they should all be hatching around the same time... If I were to relocate the 2 nests into the stall that the other female has her nest after all the ducklings have hatched, will the females be okay with this? Or will they be too protective over their own and fight each other??

My logic is that it would be ideal for all three moms to raise their ducklings together and for the young to form one group instead of having three separate groups that don't interact... I also need to keep them in stalls for awhile to keep them away from barn cats that tend to be my biggest predator to baby ducklings...

Has anyone tried this before?

Welcome to BYC! Your three hens will probably be fine raising the ducklings together, but do *not* move anyone until *all* eggs are hatched. If you try to move a Muscovy's eggs right now she will probably not sit at the new location.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good luck because 2 yrs almost ago My 3 Muscovy females brooded at the same time, They had their own lil cubby for privacy and then hatch took place and all H broke loose the 3 mamas would bring their ducklings out and it never failed all the ducklings would start following each other behind one mama and the other 2 mamas would be frantic they didn't want to share. Which meant ME had to go and get ducklings that went to the other 2 mamas. All were the same color dark brown but 2 they were yellow so even though I am sure I never got the same brown ones with the same mama they were happy they got their babies back. After that happened 2-3 times I started waiting to let the mamas and babies out so they would be able to spend time with their lil ones with out them running off to join the gang. It ended up 2 of the mamas gave up at around 4 weeks and one mama ended up staying with all the ducklings for another couple of weeks. But I swore I'd never do that again.

 

[casportpony]

Good luck because 2 yrs almost ago My 3 Muscovy females brooded at the same time, They had their own lil cubby for privacy and then hatch took place and all H broke loose the 3 mamas would bring their ducklings out and it never failed all the ducklings would start following each other behind one mama and the other 2 mamas would be frantic they didn't want to share. Which meant ME had to go and get ducklings that went to the other 2 mamas. All were the same color dark brown but 2 they were yellow so even though I am sure I never got the same brown ones with the same mama they were happy they got their babies back. After that happened 2-3 times I started waiting to let the mamas and babies out so they would be able to spend time with their lil ones with our the running off to join the gang. It ended up 2 of the mamas gave up at around 4 weeks and one mama ended up staying with all the ducklings for another couple of weeks. But I swore I'd never do that again.

Interesting... Mine usually just hang out and watch all the ducklings together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Years ago I had sisters that hatched together and raised their ducklings together but not these I have now.

 

[Murphmichael]

Good luck because 2 yrs almost ago My 3 Muscovy females brooded at the same time, They had their own lil cubby for privacy and then hatch took place and all H broke loose the 3 mamas would bring their ducklings out and it never failed all the ducklings would start following each other behind one mama and the other 2 mamas would be frantic they didn't want to share. Which meant ME had to go and get ducklings that went to the other 2 mamas. All were the same color dark brown but 2 they were yellow so even though I am sure I never got the same brown ones with the same mama they were happy they got their babies back. After that happened 2-3 times I started waiting to let the mamas and babies out so they would be able to spend time with their lil ones with out them running off to join the gang. It ended up 2 of the mamas gave up at around 4 weeks and one mama ended up staying with all the ducklings foranother couple of weeks. But I swore I'd never do that again.

Oh boy, thank you for that. Not the answer I was hoping for, but I was certainly expecting something along those lines... One female has hatched all her eggs and relocated to the stall in which another female is still sitting on her eggs. I am now imagining all the babies merging into one big group and what a fiasco that will be... Maybe i will try to divide the stall as to not let the little ones merge.... wish me luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

All the best let us know how it turns out lol

Letting them share same area may cause mamas to fight too and lil one will get caught in the cross hairs. I would rather be safe than sorry and lose some.