New call ducklings

[sayyadina]

My call duck girl just hatched her first ducklings today, and I was wondering what they need. They have a big nest box in the duck house. Have pine pellets on the ground.

I have purina Layena crumbles for the 2 adults to eat.

Do I need to remove the male, or separate him? Should I offer the babies gro gel? I have some chick waterers that I can bring in. Mom and dad have their food in small dog bowls, and I have some tinier feeders I can use.

What do I need to know about taking care of mom and her new babies? She had 11 eggs and I've seen 2 ducklings so far.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My call duck girl just hatched her first ducklings today, and I was wondering what they need. They have a big nest box in the duck house. Have pine pellets on the ground.

I have purina Layena crumbles for the 2 adults to eat.

Do I need to remove the male, or separate him? Should I offer the babies gro gel? I have some chick waterers that I can bring in. Mom and dad have their food in small dog bowls, and I have some tinier feeders I can use.

What do I need to know about taking care of mom and her new babies? She had 11 eggs and I've seen 2 ducklings so far.

Congrats on your new ducklings, it's such a joy to watch mama and babies, the babies will want to eat about 24 hrs after hatch, as they live on the yolk sac till then, you don't want to feed ducklings Layer, if you can't get duck starter then go with an All Flock feed or chick starter. The adults can eat either one. some times drakes can hurt or kill ducklings so keeping a close eye on dad will be a good idea if you decide not to remove him. And he maybe fine with them. That's something you'll have to decide. chick waterers for the first week would be good because you don't want the duckling climbing into something they can't get out of and drowning. If the ducklings can eat out of the bowls you have out then they will be fine it's just they are so tiny you may have to go with something smaller for them. Mama will show them how to eat and drink and until all the ducklings hatch keep food and water pretty close to mom so she doesn't have to go far to get water and something to eat and she can show the ones already hatched where the food is. Other than that just sit back and enjoy mama will take care of the rest. And be sure to take lost of pics to share on here. we love them. also if you have a pool set up in their enclosure make sure that if mama takes the ducklings in that they can easily get in and out, don't want to lose any from getting water logged and drowning.

 

[sayyadina]

Thanks Miss Lydia.

Just got some Purina Start & Grow. Was the only thing I could find.

So far, dad seems ok with them. He spent the night locked in the house. Mom probably kept him away. She's SO protective of them. They have a good size yard attached to the house. Their duck house is 3'x6'. And the nest box itself is pretty big and roomy.

Just have the 2 so far that hatched yesterday. She still has 8 or 9 eggs she's sitting on. When she started laying, she was averaging 1 egg every 2-3 days. How long will it take for them all to hatch? Mom is still sitting on all of them, and the babies are under her. I put a chick waterer in the nest box next to the nest for them to get at. Will add a food dish soon.

Got one pic, but its kind of dark and hard to see. Will definitely see about getting pics.

The adult pools are very tall. Too tall for the little ones to get in. Its supposed to be cool and rainy here, and mom is doing a super job at keeping them with her and under her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Miss Lydia.

Just got some Purina Start & Grow. Was the only thing I could find.

So far, dad seems ok with them. He spent the night locked in the house. Mom probably kept him away. She's SO protective of them. They have a good size yard attached to the house. Their duck house is 3'x6'. And the nest box itself is pretty big and roomy.

Just have the 2 so far that hatched yesterday. She still has 8 or 9 eggs she's sitting on. When she started laying, she was averaging 1 egg every 2-3 days. How long will it take for them all to hatch? Mom is still sitting on all of them, and the babies are under her. I put a chick waterer in the nest box next to the nest for them to get at. Will add a food dish soon.

Got one pic, but its kind of dark and hard to see. Will definitely see about getting pics.

The adult pools are very tall. Too tall for the little ones to get in. Its supposed to be cool and rainy here, and mom is doing a super job at keeping them with her and under her.

Just want to share something important when the ducklings come out don't underestimate them being able to get into a pool, not long ago some posted about their duckling drowning in a pool they thought for sure they couldn't get into. It can take as long as 36 hrs for duckling to go from internal pip to zip so it's a waiting game and sometimes they don't all start at once, so I'd check under her on tomorrow or Monday even as long as Tues. listen to the eggs if they have internally pipped you'll hear peeping. and if there are still some unhatched then candle they may have no been made it for any number of reasons. My duck last year was sitting on 8 eggs she hatched from Tues till Thurs, on Saturday I candled and found the other 4 weren't alive and tossed them, Mama got up then and started caring for her ducklings. Congrats on the 2 lil ones so far, hope more hatch!

 

[sayyadina]

Thanks. Will keep an eye on her.

Had a little problem. One of the ducklings wasn't drinking the water I'd provided in the nest box. And mom brought the other one outside......and its overcast, raining and cool here. So, I got the weak one inside, and got some water & food in him/her. Perked right up. Then I saw that mom had brought the other one outside, so I had to go rescue that one. So they're both in a makeshift brooder with heat lamp, thermometer, food, water, & gro gel. Doing great.

Mom is upset and has been looking for them. She's and her mate are now locked inside for the evening. When I left them, she was standing next to her nest but not sitting on them. Hopefully, she'll sit on her eggs again. If not, its a learning experience and things have gone better than last year when none hatched.

Both are now very active and vigorous. Going through active eat and drink, then little power naps, and repeat. So cute!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks. Will keep an eye on her.

Had a little problem. One of the ducklings wasn't drinking the water I'd provided in the nest box. And mom brought the other one outside......and its overcast, raining and cool here. So, I got the weak one inside, and got some water & food in him/her. Perked right up. Then I saw that mom had brought the other one outside, so I had to go rescue that one. So they're both in a makeshift brooder with heat lamp, thermometer, food, water, & gro gel. Doing great.

Mom is upset and has been looking for them. She's and her mate are now locked inside for the evening. When I left them, she was standing next to her nest but not sitting on them. Hopefully, she'll sit on her eggs again. If not, its a learning experience and things have gone better than last year when none hatched.

Both are now very active and vigorous. Going through active eat and drink, then little power naps, and repeat. So cute!

Sounds like you did what you had to. glad to hear they are doing good. and she will probably settle back down Hopefully.

 

[sayyadina]

Yeah, I hope so.

Here's a pic of the 2 of them.

Think the one on the left is pastel and the one on the right is blue fawn. Mom is pastel and dad is blue fawn.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yeah, I hope so.

Here's a pic of the 2 of them.

Think the one on the left is pastel and the one on the right is blue fawn. Mom is pastel and dad is blue fawn.

They are so darn cute! i have some new calls myself(bought not hatched lol) they are a super personable duck that's for sure! love to see pics of how these wee ones grow... mine are only 2wks old.

 

[sayyadina]

Yes, yes they are! Much more active today and very strong. They seem to be adjusting to being away from mom. No more calling out to her.

What do you use as a feeder for them? I have a small lid with some gro gel and wet crumbles. They love it, but they will also walk through it, sit in it and even poop in it. Any other ideas, or is this ok? They have a chick waterer with some electrolyte water for drinking.


Good news is mom is sitting on the remaining eggs.

 

[Going Quackers]

Yes, yes they are! Much more active today and very strong. They seem to be adjusting to being away from mom. No more calling out to her.

What do you use as a feeder for them? I have a small lid with some gro gel and wet crumbles. They love it, but they will also walk through it, sit in it and even poop in it. Any other ideas, or is this ok? They have a chick waterer with some electrolyte water for drinking.


Good news is mom is sitting on the remaining eggs.

I took the bottom of a chick waterer and filled it up, just today i "graduated' them to a classic chick metal/jar feeder