New Hatch PLEASE Help!!!

[gnmrk2000]

Daisy hatched 8 ducklings all doing beautifully! This morning I decised to remove the 12 eggs that were still in her nest since she had been off it for over two hours with her babies. SURE ENOUGH I HEARD A PEEPING EGG!!!!!! I had to go to work so I quickly replaced the eggs and hoped she would start sitting again. I just got home and my husband said she wasn't sitting on them at all anymore. I know she is busy with her new babies, but what about this one? Should I remove the eggs and see if I still hear peeping? I don't own an incubator so what do I do if it is still peeping? Please help me decide what to do!

 

[Amiga]

I am surprised a hatcher hasn't noticed this yet.

Do you know anyone in 4H? Eggs can be rescued and helped to hatch, even after cooling off a bit. I suppose you could start by getting it into a warm brooder-like environment with a small bowl of water nearby for humidity until you get some detailed answers.

Wow. What a day you have had!!! What a couple of days!!!!

 

[gnmrk2000]

Thank you for responding! Daisy has started sitting again on the eggs. I have no idea what is going on under her, but I have decided to just let nature take its course. I have never helped anything hatch and I worry about doing more harm than good. This is a case of Momma Duck knows best

BTW this is my first hatch since acquiring my Pekins last year. I remember starting them on DUMOR CHICK STARTER from TSC. I moved them to DUMOR POULTRY LAYER when they were old enough. So now I need the chick starter again for the babies. My question is, how do I keep Daisy from eating the Chick Starter? Can she just eat the Chick Starter that I am giving them? Should I separate them from her when I feed them so I can give them the food that they need?

 

[70%cocoa]

Good to hear that your duck has started sitting again.

The mother duck can eat the chick starter as well. It will give her a good boost after sitting for a month. There is no need to try to give her different food.

When they are a few weeks old you can move them all to pullet grower. Wait till the ducklings are about 16 weeks old to move them onto layer food (it has too much calcium for young birds).

It is important to make sure that you don't have water sources that the ducklings can get into and drown. Ducklings quickly develop the ability to jump quite well and can get themselves into places they can't get out of. Make sure water is provided in shallow dishes that ducklings can easily step out of. Your mother duck will still need to wash her face so you can give her a bucket of water once a day while you supervise, to let her wash her face and bill clean.

Congratulations on your hatch and I hope you have a wonderful time watching your duck raise her babies! I'm sure they are gorgeous