the hen had 12 eggs they all hatched but they only lived for a day so then there was 4 left then one more died they all died last night they all had a gash on there head i think the drake killed them but i dont no please help
It could be possible that the drake killed them. I have heard people talking about how the drakes kill the babies cause they want to mate with the female again but she doesnt want to. So that means the drake gets mad and kills the ducklings so that the female will want to mate again. I have never experienced this since I seperate my females when they start to brood. Im so sorry for you lose.
Im so sorry to here about you ducklings , I know how you feel I lost some to their daddy drake also it was horrible.
Some drakes will kill the ducklings. Sorry that this happened. Next clutch remove the drake and you should have better success.
If you think your drake is killing ducklings, then keep him separated from the babies until they are grown up enough to get away from him. In this case, the only way to circumvent what Mother Nature has programed into them is a fence.
It might also be the mother. Some ducks are great mothers and some aren't. Just a another possibility. Really sorry to hear about your loss.
Sooo Sorry to hear about your babies... YES the drakes will kill the babies! I just had that happen a couple weeks ago (I cried) my Rouen drake is even penned up by himself. The babies could get through the fencing to his pen & i found the baby dead against the side of the house with splatter marks on the house. Always listen and if the hen is being louder than normal go check b/c she might have even let a baby slip by her/wonder away. Good luck with your next babies, ~Julie~
My mama duck tried to kill her duckling, thank goodness I found it before it was too late. Just like Chriswarden said she was an awesome broody but didn't want the duckling after it hatched.
