New Mama Muscovy

[NikkisChickies]

Hi! I have a Muscovy that is a new mama, her eggs just hatched, but I wanted to know if it’s normal for her to not put the new ducklings under her? It was like she pushed them out from under her and then tucked away the unhatched eggs (which were random chicken eggs we had not picked up yet). Does she not want them? Not as familiar with ducks hatching eggs vs. chickens. I did bring them in just to be safe. I didn’t want the new babies out in the open where our chickens and other ducks could hurt or kill them. TIA

 

[GranderTheGander]

Get rid of all other eggs under her and around her and then see how she treats the ducklings. It sounds like she is trying to hatch the rest of the eggs, which is normal, so the ducklings are supposed to wait next to her until she does. With geese, I've seen ganders watch out for the newborn goslings while the mother finishes hatching any late eggs, but drakes are usually deadbeat dads who pay ducklings little positive attention.

 

[NikkisChickies]

Get rid of all other eggs under her and around her and then see how she treats the ducklings. It sounds like she is trying to hatch the rest of the eggs, which is normal, so the ducklings are supposed to wait next to her until she does. With geese, I've seen ganders watch out for the newborn goslings while the mother finishes hatching any late eggs, but drakes are usually deadbeat dads who pay ducklings little positive attention.

Since I brought them in, will she take them back? I think my biggest concern is the other birds getting to them. I felt bad taking them, but I didn’t want to risk it since this is our first time with our Muscovy hatching eggs and I’m not familiar. I’ve seen my other Muscovy eat a baby bird trying to fly out of a nest

Thanks for your reply!

 

[GranderTheGander]

Yes, Muscovy ducks will eat meat!

She should take them back since she recognizes they are hers by their voices. Watch out for a while to make sure she does, though. If not, you will have to raise them. Most Muscovy mothers I have seen were very good mothers, but you never know for sure with any duck, since they all have different personalities and experiences.

How many did she hatch? I've seen Muscovy females with as many as 15 ducklings!

 

[NikkisChickies]

Yes, Muscovy ducks will eat meat!

She should take them back since she recognizes they are hers by their voices. Watch out for a while to make sure she does, though. If not, you will have to raise them. Most Muscovy mothers I have seen were very good mothers, but you never know for sure with any duck, since they all have different personalities and experiences.

How many did she hatch? I've seen Muscovy females with as many as 15 ducklings!

Yes from what I’ve seen then can hatch a lot! I was only leaving her with 5 and removing all the chicken eggs she was putting underneath her…we definitely don’t need more chickens right now lol. But out of the five three hatched. I tried to reintroduce one of the ducklings and all three of my Muscovies were curious but I didn’t feel comfortable putting it down alone. The female Muscovies are still being broody so I feel better raising these guys and just reintroducing them later

 

[bhaugh]

Your duck needs to stop setting. It's very hard on them. Take the eggs away and give the ducklings back to her. Destroy the nest. If your afraid the other birds may hurt the ducklings confine her and the ducklings. It's much harder on the ducklings to be reintroduced to the flock later than her raising them now. Unless she is a bad mom, she should break from setting with above suggestions and become a mom.

 

[NikkisChickies]

Your duck needs to stop setting. It's very hard on them. Take the eggs away and give the ducklings back to her. Destroy the nest. If your afraid the other birds may hurt the ducklings confine her and the ducklings. It's much harder on the ducklings to be reintroduced to the flock later than her raising them now. Unless she is a bad mom, she should break from setting with above suggestions and become a mom.

Thanks

 

[bhaugh]

I'll add my ducks loose weight and look poorly when they come off their nests even though I feed well, up their protein and they usually have a co sitter. Prolonged setting clutch after clutch takes its toll and I won't loose a good mom for more ducklings

 

[NikkisChickies]

I'll add my ducks loose weight and look poorly when they come off their nests even though I feed well, up their protein and they usually have a co sitter. Prolonged setting clutch after clutch takes its toll and I won't loose a good mom for more ducklings

Thanks! Yes my girls have been up and back to their “normal selves” lol, not all fluffy and chasing everyone off. The ducklings are with us and we will reintroduce them slowly once they get a little older. We’ve hatched one of our Muscovy girls by incubator last year and she is so much more social with us and comes to us when we call her by name! Just love her so much.