I have ordered baby ducklings before, but we never had a 'natural hatch' until today. I am simply amazed at what we witnessed.
Our Cayuga mom sat on about 10 eggs for a month, so we knew to expect something, if anything, this weekend. She had taken up residence in a bush next to our house, that we loosely put flexible lattice around, with a small opening during the day, so she might be a little safer from predators (of which we have many.)
This morning, she tossed out an eggshell. Then we heard peeps through our screen window. We ran outside, and Mama prompty marched 7 new babies out of the bush!
We spent the morning in hyper-over-drive brainstorming how we would handle this. Should we reinforce the lattice with netting so the babies dont squeeze through? Should we make them a new nest in the garden, which has a fence? Should we put them in the duckhouse down by the pond? If we did that, would the other duck ("Auntie") hurt them? And what about the chickens? Will they attack the babies? How do we keep them warm when they're not in an incubator with a heat lamp? What size water pan would be good for day old ducklings? Should we grind down the duck food into mash?
Our heads were spinning.
Mama basically said to us, "Calm down boys, I got this." She marched those little guys all around our property, never venturing in the danger zone of the driveway or road. She marched them right through our free range chickens, with Auntie taking up the rear, announcing the brood. The Hens didnt care - the Rooster went over to take a look, and Auntie chased him halfway across the yard, and then came back to her position as the caboose. These day old babies proceeded to eat the grass and forage as they walked. Mama took them down to our pond (half-acre), and they swam around most of the day. They learned to scramble up the embankment, and then Mama took them to a sunny spot to dry off and get warm. Then she patiently (1 hour) taught them how to climb the ramp to the duckhouse by walking up and down and grunting, and they finally got it. They are closed up for the night. I'm awe-struck.
Our Cayuga mom sat on about 10 eggs for a month, so we knew to expect something, if anything, this weekend. She had taken up residence in a bush next to our house, that we loosely put flexible lattice around, with a small opening during the day, so she might be a little safer from predators (of which we have many.)
This morning, she tossed out an eggshell. Then we heard peeps through our screen window. We ran outside, and Mama prompty marched 7 new babies out of the bush!
We spent the morning in hyper-over-drive brainstorming how we would handle this. Should we reinforce the lattice with netting so the babies dont squeeze through? Should we make them a new nest in the garden, which has a fence? Should we put them in the duckhouse down by the pond? If we did that, would the other duck ("Auntie") hurt them? And what about the chickens? Will they attack the babies? How do we keep them warm when they're not in an incubator with a heat lamp? What size water pan would be good for day old ducklings? Should we grind down the duck food into mash?
Our heads were spinning.
Mama basically said to us, "Calm down boys, I got this." She marched those little guys all around our property, never venturing in the danger zone of the driveway or road. She marched them right through our free range chickens, with Auntie taking up the rear, announcing the brood. The Hens didnt care - the Rooster went over to take a look, and Auntie chased him halfway across the yard, and then came back to her position as the caboose. These day old babies proceeded to eat the grass and forage as they walked. Mama took them down to our pond (half-acre), and they swam around most of the day. They learned to scramble up the embankment, and then Mama took them to a sunny spot to dry off and get warm. Then she patiently (1 hour) taught them how to climb the ramp to the duckhouse by walking up and down and grunting, and they finally got it. They are closed up for the night. I'm awe-struck.
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