New ducklings hatched yesterday!

[Lovemyquackquackers]

Hello! I am new to hatching ducklings these are my first babies. I let my mommy duck set on the eggs and they hatched yesterday. I have 2. I left the ducklings with their mommy and separated them from the mallard and the other female as they were being aggressive with them and I feared they would kill them. Couple of questions here...do I leave the babies with the mother duck? Second question ...there are 2 eggs left in the nest, she hasn’t set on them all afternoon and now doesn’t seem to want to be on the nest with ducklings but rather at a different area of the run where she cuddles them up under her but no nest or bedding under her. I have put some straw in for her in the hopes she will make a bed for herself and the babies. Please any advice as to what I could do or do differently would be very much appreciated.

Sincerely lovemyquackquackers

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats on your new ducklings. Sounds like mama is done brooding and is ready for the next step which is being a mama duck. I’d take the two eggs out and candle also do a sniff test. More than likely these two aren’t going to hatch but you want to make sure before you toss them, def put down more bedding for mom and babies. Sounds like she is doing everything right so yes I’d leave the ducklings with their mama. If the eggs are pepping or you see life when you candle then it will be up to you to finish this part unless you have another broody around

 

[PirateGirl]

She will sit on them anywhere. She will likely take them to the nest where she hatched them to rest and warm up at times, but throughout the day she may take them all over the yard (or wherever they have access) and periodically tuck them under her and sit on them wherever they happen to be. It’s her way of keeping them safe and warm but still taking them out and about and teaching them things. I would leave them with mama but consider keeping the other adult ducks you have separate for awhile. I have seen some pretty serious aggression towards ducklings before and your other adults are definitely capable of quickly killing a duckling. Use your best judgment of your own Flovk when working on introductions.

 

[Lovemyquackquackers]

Thank you so much. Yes she was doing this today in regards to taking them all over the run then hiding them in her chest feathers that hung down as well. I put more bedding in for them tonight in the nest area and have taken the other two eggs out as they didn’t smell very good. I’m hoping she will settle in the warm nest with the new bedding with them for the night.