My duck just hatched eggs, what do I do?

[aychbe]

I'very incubator hatched eggs in the past but never naturally. I let my khaki girl who had gone broody sit on some eggs and they've started hatching. Will she do all the work or do I need to intervene? Also, where I live the temperature is only going up to the mid 60's, low 70's over the next week. Is this a concern or will she know what to do?

 

[PerfectPlumage]

She will know what to do. There would be no ducks ever if the mother ducks didn't know what to do. All I do to help my broodies is give them a little bit of food and scare away predators. The mother duck will keep the chicks warm, teach them, find them food, and shelter them.

 

[aychbe]

@PerfectPlumage, sweet! She's been real territorial today and extra loud so it looks like instincts are in tact with her.

There are still unhatched eggs in the nest and she's not sitting constantly. I'm assuming I should just let them be for a few more days and if they don't hatch, remove them?

 

[PerfectPlumage]

@PerfectPlumage , sweet! She's been real territorial today and extra loud so it looks like instincts are in tact with her.

There are still unhatched eggs in the nest and she's not sitting constantly. I'm assuming I should just let them be for a few more days and if they don't hatch, remove them?

Yes. Also, make sure there not rotten because if they are they can actually explode when shes sitting on them, making a big stinky mess.

 

[aychbe]

@PerfectPlumage. Thanks. There were a few that smelled pretty rotten. I pulled them.

She'said already showing the ducklings around so she may have abandoned the nest at this point.

My drake will charge the ducklings. Should I be concerned or is this just what they do to keep them in tight with the mother?

 

[PerfectPlumage]

As long as the drake doesn't try to actually hurt the chicks, it's fine. If he does, chase him away a couple times.

 

[aychbe]

Ok. He nips at them, they run to their mother & he continues about his grazing.

I have to leave for work in a little bit and I just wanted to make sure they'll be ok. The ducklings have already fallen in the pond, which I wanted to avoid, but they popped back out so I know they're able to do that at least.

 

[PerfectPlumage]

Ok. He nips at them, they run to their mother & he continues about his grazing.

I have to leave for work in a little bit and I just wanted to make sure they'll be ok. The ducklings have already fallen in the pond, which I wanted to avoid, but they popped back out so I know they're able to do that at least.

They'll be okay. The mother will teach them how to swim.