Hey Marty good to see you, you know not everyone has that kind of success with hatches though, sometimes we lose a duckling to a drake or another duck so I always caution to keep mom and babies safe for 2-3 weeks to give the ducklings a chance to gain some weight and be strong enough to get away if needed from one of the other flock members. Really up to the OP but I just feel better keeping mine separate for a while. Losing 2 ducklings last year because of my mistakes has made me rethink things.
Good luck!!!!Finally caught a picture of mama sitting, this is day two that I have seen her sitting. She has built the hay up so tall that all you can see is her little head poking out. She is under the bridge my husband built (but we weren't able to use because he didn't measure) so the bridge is sitting up against the wall in their barn/pen.
You can barely see the top of her head poking out from the hay.
I can only tell you my experience, when our ducklings were only 2 days old mama brought them outside and a blk snake got one and if I hadn't walked up when I did the lil duckling wouldn't have made it, it had been hurt on it's leg so I had to bring it inside to treat and I kept it over night to make sure it was eating and drinking next morning I made sure duckling had it's leg treated again and it was feeling fine I took it back out and set it down inside the house where mama was staying with the other 3 she took that lil duckling back like he had never left. I wouldn't let the duckling stay too long away or it will Imprint on you and it may not accept momma only thing you can do it try and if she attacks or doesn't accept them take it back but I'd go ahead and try, and fix the problem so none of the rest can wander off and fall into the hole. Good luck.Hello, I have ducklings beginning to hatch under Momma duck...one was already out and dry this morning, and when I went to check while Momma was off eating I noticed the first duckling had wandered off the nest and down into a small hole under a bush where he would not be able to get back into the nest on his own, so while I was trying to pick him up to put him back in the nest Momma duck came back onto the nest and started her hissing and nipping towards me, understandably. I was not able to get the duckling back under her so he is in a brooder in our house.
My question is...should I attempt to put the duckling under her back on the nest, say, the next time she is off it, or wait until they all hatch and she is out and about with them hoping she won't notice me adding him, and if I do it this way, will the duckling still follow her and his siblings? Will she accept the duckling? Will she hurt him? Or is he now always going to be a stranger? Ugh...I am stressingthinking what I could have done differently, I mean there was no way the duckling could have gotten back to the nest on his own....it is a deep hole under a thick bush, so I hope I did the right thing by getting him out, but now am worried that Momma will not accept him. Bummed out .....this is a first time duck Momma and my first time doing the natural brooding so not sure what she will do or if she will hurt the little guy if I try to add him to the rest. any experienced folks out there have any bits of wisdom out there? I'm assuming the hatch should be done in about 24 hours or so, and she will be taking the rest out exploring....so want to know what I should do. Thank you!
That is so cute, yep can barely make out the head.Finally caught a picture of mama sitting, this is day two that I have seen her sitting. She has built the hay up so tall that all you can see is her little head poking out. She is under the bridge my husband built (but we weren't able to use because he didn't measure) so the bridge is sitting up against the wall in their barn/pen.
You can barely see the top of her head poking out from the hay.
Post if she doesn't get off at all today because I'm thinking that is a positive sign something is going under her.Good luck!!!!
My girl is on day 28 as of tomorrow.
It's her first time, so trying not to get my hopes too up.....
She's not come off nest all day today. Guess we will see what happens.
This pics from back at the beginning, but things look pretty much the same today. LOL
Post if she doesn't get off at all today because I'm thinking that is a positive sign something is going under her.
Scary story about that black snake....we had one in our basement a month ago and I freaked out LOL! I still get creeped out thinking about it. Glad your duckling made it ok 
