Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[Blondiega1]

I know it's hard sitting there watching and waiting..

Yeah it is.
Still nothing. She was gone an hour for breakfast and is back sitting.

 

[barnyard betty]

Well thank you Blondiegal1 and Miss Lydia
Update...Momma duck is not doing a good job at taking care of the little ones. She runs off to be with her old trio of adults and leaves behind the ducklings totally unprotected. They are trying so hard to keep up but she runs away like she doesn't much care. She quacks at them but I think she doesn't get that they are still too small to follow that fast. I'm thinking I need to find a way to separate Momma from her old trio in a smaller area with her ducklings so she can't run off, but don't know how or where I could do this. Currently they are all in a large fenced in backyard. I had to take the ducklings away this morning down into a brooder in our basement so that the ducklings could eat and rest and drink. Momma duck was running them ragged running all over a huge backyard and the babies were getting left behind and getting so tired. On the bright side, non of the other adult ducks made any attempt at attacking the babies and they all got along fine.

So, I'm debating on what to do...should I find some way to confine her with her ducklings to a smaller area? If so, How can I do that? (need ideas on cheap temporary enclosure that I could build) The yard is huge, and don't have any other fenced in area or secure place to put her in so don't know what I could do? And if I do that, will she just attempt to escape to be with her trio? Are some Mommas just not that interested in the babies once they hatch?
Or should I just keep them in the brooder a few days until they get bigger and are able to keep up? If so, when reintroducing them...will she even recognize them and take care of them? Will they still recognize her?? So many questions....
HELP! Any ideas??

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well thank you Blondiegal1 and Miss Lydia
Update...Momma duck is not doing a good job at taking care of the little ones. She runs off to be with her old trio of adults and leaves behind the ducklings totally unprotected. They are trying so hard to keep up but she runs away like she doesn't much care. She quacks at them but I think she doesn't get that they are still too small to follow that fast. I'm thinking I need to find a way to separate Momma from her old trio in a smaller area with her ducklings so she can't run off, but don't know how or where I could do this. Currently they are all in a large fenced in backyard. I had to take the ducklings away this morning down into a brooder in our basement so that the ducklings could eat and rest and drink. Momma duck was running them ragged running all over a huge backyard and the babies were getting left behind and getting so tired. On the bright side, non of the other adult ducks made any attempt at attacking the babies and they all got along fine.

So, I'm debating on what to do...should I find some way to confine her with her ducklings to a smaller area? If so, How can I do that? (need ideas on cheap temporary enclosure that I could build) The yard is huge, and don't have any other fenced in area or secure place to put her in so don't know what I could do? And if I do that, will she just attempt to escape to be with her trio? Are some Mommas just not that interested in the babies once they hatch?
Or should I just keep them in the brooder a few days until they get bigger and are able to keep up? If so, when reintroducing them...will she even recognize them and take care of them? Will they still recognize her?? So many questions....
HELP! Any ideas??

I'd try real hard to make a place for mom and babies, temporary fencing is one way to go I use the plastic poultry fencing and the 2.69 fiber glass fence posts. and tie wraps. Put up the fencing and something for mama and ducklings to get into so they will be safe at night even a large dog crate will work then you could carry it into a secure building. But mama needs to take care of her ducklings, bless their hearts some ducks just don't get it and I'm afraid you may have losses if she keeps this up running them all over, good for you intervening and caring for them, If you keep them in the brooder she will eventually not recognize them as hers so another decision to make, keeping them inside and giving them much needed TLC for about 1-3 weeks or confining them where mom has to take care of them, this type of fencing would be hard to get over if put up right unless she is Muscovy, My Scovy mom climb right over it but only once after that she stayed put with her ducklings at week 3 I took the fence down.

 

[barnyard betty]

Ok, I am going to TSC later today so I will see if they have any of the poultry fencing. I really do want her to take care of them, So disappointed that she'd rather chase around with her friends lol! Hopefully I can find the fencing and get it put up yet today and put them all in there. I guess I will just surround the nest area with the fencing with a little added open area. The ducklings are taking a well deserved nap after eating in the brooder. Poor little guys. Will keep you posted on how it works Thank you soooo much for advice Miss Lydia!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, I am going to TSC later today so I will see if they have any of the poultry fencing. I really do want her to take care of them, So disappointed that she'd rather chase around with her friends lol! Hopefully I can find the fencing and get it put up yet today and put them all in there. I guess I will just surround the nest area with the fencing with a little added open area. The ducklings are taking a well deserved nap after eating in the brooder. Poor little guys. Will keep you posted on how it works Thank you soooo much for advice Miss Lydia!!!!

Our closet TSC doesn't have the plastic poultry fencing just the wire, but Lowes does it's not too expensive and what I like about it is it's easy to put up and take down to use again where when using wire very hard to take down to use again, for me anyway.pic of fencing

 

[barnyard betty]

Miss Lydia
Ok thanks for the heads up. It's a long drive to town (abt an hour) so will try Lowes if can't find at TSC. You would think they would carry it! So is it listed as poultry fencing at Lowes? Or like landscaping/snow? There is another Mom N Pop feed store I can try in town if I strike out at TSC or Lowes.

 

[barnyard betty]

Miss Lydia
Ok thanks for the heads up. It's a long drive to town (abt an hour) so will try Lowes if can't find at TSC. You would think they would carry it! So is it listed as poultry fencing at Lowes? Or like landscaping/snow? There is another Mom N Pop feed store I can try in town if I strike out at TSC or Lowes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia
Ok thanks for the heads up. It's a long drive to town (abt an hour) so will try Lowes if can't find at TSC. You would think they would carry it! So is it listed as poultry fencing at Lowes? Or like landscaping/snow? There is another Mom N Pop feed store I can try in town if I strike out at TSC or Lowes.

I believe it says poultry fencing on the roll. but I'm sure if you asked someone could show you it's over in fencing area and there is also plastic hardware cloth too right close to it.

 

[tull14]

So found another nest today in the barn... this only has 1 egg in it so far. I guess I'm going to have late layers. I just don't see how this is possible when I just got these as babies at the end of March!!! My question about the poultry fencing.... does the mama try to get out and socialize with the rest of the flock? If so how do you go about letting her out without letting the babies out for the 3 week period? Also I'm going to try and candle Monday that will be day 7 for my 15 eggs that mama is sitting on. The only hard part will be catching her off the nest!!! Does it have to be done at exactly 7 days? I'm so new to this I really don't know what I'm doing. As of right now I'm "winging" it. When candling do I remove the ones I find that are not fertilized and with veins or leave them for her?

 

[Miss Lydia]

So found another nest today in the barn... this only has 1 egg in it so far. I guess I'm going to have late layers. I just don't see how this is possible when I just got these as babies at the end of March!!! My question about the poultry fencing.... does the mama try to get out and socialize with the rest of the flock? If so how do you go about letting her out without letting the babies out for the 3 week period?

Once my mama realized babies couldn't follow her she stayed put with them, she climbed out one time, a mallard could most likely fly over and back in if she wanted to do any socializing. But hopefully she'd just stay put, at least if she did go for a visit the babies would be safe till she came back. Your ducks are going to be hatching into Oct. but mama will keep them warm it will be up to you to give them a cozy place to keep them babies warm in.