New ducklings

[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

 

[Lovemyquackquackers]

Good morning! I am searching for some help. Yesterday I posted about my two new ducklings and leaving them with mama. I went out to check on them this morning and found that one of the little guys is dead. It looks as though mama may have squished him by mistake from what I can tell. I don’t know if I should take the other one away and bring him inside until he gets a bit bigger? Please help.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It’s a hard call. Things like that can happen and really up to you. If you feel in your gut that would be the best for this little one. Just know once you take it she won’t take it back once it’s away for a few days. So you’ll be raising it till time to integrate into the flock. Very sorry you lost the little one. I had similar thing happen recently with my Muscovy so I took the last two eggs away that were almost hatched since she squished the one duckling while it was hatching.

 

[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

It’s a hard call. Things like that can happen and really up to you. If you feel in your gut that would be the best for this little one. Just know once you take it she won’t take it back once it’s away for a few days. So you’ll be raising it till time to integrate into the flock. Very sorry you lost the little one. I had similar thing happen recently with my Muscovy so I took the last two eggs away that were almost hatched since she squished the one duckling while it was hatching.

I’m so torn . This is not a light decision.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No it isn’t I def know. How is she with this duckling? Is she letting it get under her for warmth? Things happen even out of mamas control too might have been something wrong with the duckling that couldn’t be seen. When you found it where was it?

 

[Lovemyquackquackers]

Yes she seemed to be doing that with both cause when I checked on her yesterday I wouldn’t see them and then they would peak out from under her chest but she was always standing didn’t seem to want to sit down and get them under her feathers. . Up she won’t go near the nest anymore and I have removed the eggs and put fresh straw down to make it cozy. I also put straw in the other corner where she was and this is where I found the little guy this morning that was dead.

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[Miss Lydia]

I don’t know what to tell you it’s a fine line. Is she a first time mama.

 

[Lovemyquackquackers]

Yes she seemed to be doing that with both cause when I checked on her yesterday I wouldn’t see them and then they would peak out from under her chest but she was always standing didn’t seem to want to sit down and get them under her feathers. . Up she won’t go near the nest anymore and I have removed the eggs and put fresh straw down to make it cozy. I also put straw in the other corner where she was and this is where I found the little guy this morning that was dead.

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[Lovemyquackquackers]

I don’t know what to tell you it’s a fine line. Is she a first time mama.

Yes she is a first time mama

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I’d keep a close eye on things today. If you can then if you feel you need to take the duckling you hopefully get there in time. Hopefully the instincts are working now and she’ll be a great mama.