Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[Blondiega1]

Yep they like to keep you on your toes.. well we wait. Thanks for update.

I'm sad to report we've lost one.

Delilah was off nest so I poked my head in there to check on things and discovered an egg busted open with the little one.
It was fully developed but some of the yolk sack attached. My best guess is it was a day or two from hatch.
I can only assume she must have stepped on it and busted it open as it did not look yet ready to hatch.
My step son got up in there and we removed the busted egg and the little one.

5 remain. Waiting to see if she returns.

 

[barnyard betty]

I'm sorry I got off before you posted, what did you do last night? hopefully you didn't put babies in with the adults. and they are adorable. word of caution I had one duckling trampled to death last year that is why I am so adamant about not letting ducklings run loose with adults till they are at least 2-3 weeks old they just can't get away fast enough. They really are fragile that first couple 3 weeks. and my goodness what sweet lil ducklings. I'm sorry your not seeing mama taking better care of them, seems when humans start messing around with breeding for SOP and other things they not only breed broodiness out but mothering also. Although I'm sure even in the wild there are good mama and not so good ones. If she will at least stay with them during the day then I'd keep her and them in the fenced area you made and then bring them in at night unless you see her wanting to be with them come evening. But I look forward to hearing how last night went.

Miss Lydia~
Last night I did end up taking the ducklings inside to our brooder, and let the Momma go in the coop with the others. This morning I have her out with the ducklings in the small fenced area but she just panics and paces the fence to be with her trio....so, guess I will catch the trio and put them in the small fenced area with her. The ducklings still seem to want to be with Momma even though she doesn't care about them (sad) Not sure what else I can do, with her being so attached to her buddies. Hopefully soon the babies will be fine without her so I don't have to go through trying to catch her and the trio and put in the fenced area each day. I will take the ducklings inside every night, unless like you said I see that she starts to want to be with them but I doubt at this point she will. But at least I am still enjoying the babies .

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia~
Last night I did end up taking the ducklings inside to our brooder, and let the Momma go in the coop with the others. This morning I have her out with the ducklings in the small fenced area but she just panics and paces the fence to be with her trio....so, guess I will catch the trio and put them in the small fenced area with her. The ducklings still seem to want to be with Momma even though she doesn't care about them (sad) Not sure what else I can do, with her being so attached to her buddies. Hopefully soon the babies will be fine without her so I don't have to go through trying to catch her and the trio and put in the fenced area each day. I will take the ducklings inside every night, unless like you said I see that she starts to want to be with them but I doubt at this point she will. But at least I am still enjoying the babies .

So your putting everyone including the babies in the small area together? I really don't think that's for the best for the ducklings as someone is going to get stepped on or injured. I'd just take the duckling and brood them myself, on nice warm days put babies in small fenced area so all can see each other and get use to each other. But make sure babies don't chill which would not be good at so young.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm sad to report we've lost one.

Delilah was off nest so I poked my head in there to check on things and discovered an egg busted open with the little one.
It was fully developed but some of the yolk sack attached. My best guess is it was a day or two from hatch.
I can only assume she must have stepped on it and busted it open as it did not look yet ready to hatch.
My step son got up in there and we removed the busted egg and the little one.

5 remain. Waiting to see if she returns.

So sorry about the duckling.

hoping for the rest.. let us know when she comes back.

 

[Blondiega1]

So sorry about the duckling.

hoping for the rest.. let us know when she comes back.

She's back and sitting again.
Based on the one we lost I think we have 2 or 3 more days to go.
Just have to wait it out.
She's on her own timeline now.

 

[barnyard betty]

So your putting everyone including the babies in the small area together? I really don't think that's for the best for the ducklings as someone is going to get stepped on or injured. I'd just take the duckling and brood them myself, on nice warm days put babies in small fenced area so all can see each other and get use to each other. But make sure babies don't chill which would not be good at so young.

I have just the trio in the fenced off area with the babies. The other ducks are out in the huge main yard. They are doing fine so far, it's a decent sized fenced pen that the babies and trio are in approximately 75ft around the perimeter with plenty of shade. The main yard is about an acre. They are all getting along well the trio and the babies. The babies are having a blast playing in the shallow water pan eating and foraging. The trio is resting and foraging and hanging out in one of the small pools and being respectful of the ducklings space as there is lots of room for all to have plenty of area.

I'm going to do as you say and let the trio out of that pen, the only reason I put them in there was 'cause the babies were so panicked when they couldn't see the adults and were pacing the fence to get to them. So thought that they would just wear themselves out trying to get to the adults. They are happy as long as they can see that Momma is nearby. It's going to be another hot one today (close to 100) so will bring the babies inside to the brooder and let the trio out to the main yard. Wish this was going more smoothly! LOL!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have just the trio in the fenced off area with the babies. The other ducks are out in the huge main yard. They are doing fine so far, it's a decent sized fenced pen that the babies and trio are in approximately 75ft around the perimeter with plenty of shade. The main yard is about an acre. They are all getting along well the trio and the babies. The babies are having a blast playing in the shallow water pan eating and foraging. The trio is resting and foraging and hanging out in one of the small pools and being respectful of the ducklings space as there is lots of room for all to have plenty of area.

I'm going to do as you say and let the trio out of that pen, the only reason I put them in there was 'cause the babies were so panicked when they couldn't see the adults and were pacing the fence to get to them. So thought that they would just wear themselves out trying to get to the adults. They are happy as long as they can see that Momma is nearby. It's going to be another hot one today (close to 100) so will bring the babies inside to the brooder and let the trio out to the main yard. Wish this was going more smoothly! LOL!

Listen if your seeing everything working out and you feel good about them being with the trio then by all means you do what you feel is best. You are there and seeing what's going on. I am basing things on my experience which wasn't a good out come but I had too many feet in a small area all going for food so someone was bound to get stepped on and it was one of the ducklings.

But you go with your gut please. I have had mamas and ducklings in with the general pop before and it worked out okay but to me I just feel better keeping mine separate but I have 38 total chickens-ducks and geese. a lot more to watch out for and some of them can be pretty grumpy at times. especially since I still have 5 broody ducks here I would not want them around young ducklings. Please let me know what you decide but please base your decision on what you are seeing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She's back and sitting again.
Based on the one we lost I think we have 2 or 3 more days to go.
Just have to wait it out.
She's on her own timeline now.

She sure is. So many things can happen I know your sitting on pins and needles, Lets hope this will be the last worse thing that happens and all will go smoothly form here out.

 

[barnyard betty]

Listen if your seeing everything working out and you feel good about them being with the trio then by all means you do what you feel is best. You are there and seeing what's going on. I am basing things on my experience which wasn't a good out come but I had too many feet in a small area all going for food so someone was bound to get stepped on and it was one of the ducklings.

But you go with your gut please. I have had mamas and ducklings in with the general pop before and it worked out okay but to me I just feel better keeping mine separate but I have 38 total chickens-ducks and geese. a lot more to watch out for and some of them can be pretty grumpy at times. especially since I still have 5 broody ducks here I would not want them around young ducklings. Please let me know what you decide but please base your decision on what you are seeing.

Thanks Miss Lydia, from what I see, the momma is fine when she's with her trio group and the babies are fine as long as momma is within sight of them, which she is always with her trio so if the babies want Momma...they get the whole trio. thankfully the other hen and drake in her trio are super respectful of the babies, gentle with them and don't bother them at all and even give ground to them when they are near. The babies are sticking more to each other than "close" to Mom, just so they can see her, they are fine and do their own thing together.

There's several shallow water pans I have been refreshing every couple hours and 4 different feeding stations, lots of shaded area and some bushes to hide in if they need, and a small patch of sun area, and there are 2 deeper, bigger pools for them to swim in, they are sloped on one end with easy-out ramps for the babies to get in and out. The babies are loving hopping in there to swim around and doing the diving and water dashing where they quickly dive under and swim to the other side. They sure are active happy little babies.

It's a weird situation, have been out there watching most of the morning and although of course the trio would love to be out of the pen and in the main yard as they normally would be, (especially when they can see the other ducks out there in the big stock tank bathing and splashing and having fun) but they are doing fine in there for now. They are calm and doing normal duck stuff, which is good for the ducklings to be exposed to. Guess I will continue to watch them and then take the babies inside around the hottest part of the day and let the trio out to the main yard. And play it by ear again tomorrow. Thanks again for all the advice...sometimes it just helps to hear another point of view from someone with more experience

 

[Blondiega1]

She sure is. So many things can happen I know your sitting on pins and needles, Lets hope this will be the last worse thing that happens and all will go smoothly form here out.

Thank you.
You've been very kind.

I sure hope for the best for the remainder.