Old fashioned Broody thread for ducks 2013 edition

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Blondie. Sorry to read the news. We had same thing happen here last go round. I hope by tomorrow or Tues you'll have some ducklings!

Betty - Currently I have a mom who just wouldn't stay separate from the flock. I tried, I really did, to keep her separate. All of her other hatches I've been able to keep her locked up inside my barn, but this time she decided to brood in the summer house. So, she and her ducklings have been with the flock since I think Day 2, and all has been fine. It really just depends on your flock. I'm lucky, I have little to no aggression, even from my drakes. So I go along with Miss Lydia, keep out a watchful eye.

 

[Blondiega1]

Blondie. Sorry to read the news. We had same thing happen here last go round. I hope by tomorrow or Tues you'll have some ducklings!

Betty - Currently I have a mom who just wouldn't stay separate from the flock. I tried, I really did, to keep her separate. All of her other hatches I've been able to keep her locked up inside my barn, but this time she decided to brood in the summer house. So, she and her ducklings have been with the flock since I think Day 2, and all has been fine. It really just depends on your flock. I'm lucky, I have little to no aggression, even from my drakes. So I go along with Miss Lydia, keep out a watchful eye.

Thank you.
I hope so too.

She's stil sitting.

 

[chickarooo]

Good

 

[Miss Lydia]

Blondiegal, any thing to update??

 

[barnyard betty]

Blondie. Sorry to read the news. We had same thing happen here last go round. I hope by tomorrow or Tues you'll have some ducklings!

Betty - Currently I have a mom who just wouldn't stay separate from the flock. I tried, I really did, to keep her separate. All of her other hatches I've been able to keep her locked up inside my barn, but this time she decided to brood in the summer house. So, she and her ducklings have been with the flock since I think Day 2, and all has been fine. It really just depends on your flock. I'm lucky, I have little to no aggression, even from my drakes. So I go along with Miss Lydia, keep out a watchful eye.

HollyDuckFarmer~ Glad to know I'm not the only one with a "buddy sour" duck Momma She just is not happy without her trio. She was a great setter, and that's what's confusing, 'cause she gave no indication that she would be this way before. I guess I figured if she was a good and diligent setter, she'd follow through and be a good Momma.

But, I'm getting creative, have put a plastic kiddie pool on the outside of the fenced area ducklings are in along with a food pan so the trio and other adult ducks will spend more time near the babies. I also had the trio inside the duckling pen with them for a bit this morning to help ease the duckling's panic. Luckily all are getting along fine and they treat the babies well. The babies still panic a little when Momma goes where they can't readily see her, but I think it's lessening some and hope over time they will get used to it and not start peeping when she's out of sight.

I'm going to keep mixing it up by having her & trio in with them for some of the time and some of the time let the trio out, and bring the babies inside to a brooder at night. Do you know at what approximate age the ducklings will be more independent and not start peeping when Momma is not there? Looking forward to when in a few weeks when they are big enough I can let the babies out into the general population

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Mine are still peeping and they're ~60% feathered and almost as tall as their mom! (The oldest group, that is). The youngest group is totally frantic when they lose sight of their mom. I want to say last year when I was successful at keeping ducklings separate from the flock, I want to say I did so for about 3-4 weeks. You'll know when you see their size catching up to the adults. If your mom is happy with her friends added, I'd just keep those ducks together for as long as you can.

 

[Blondiega1]

Blondiegal, any thing to update??

Nothing to report.
She's still sitting.
I'm so afraid something has gone wrong and this just isn't going to happen this time.
I'm giving her through the weekend.
That wil be 35 days.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

So many things can and do go wrong... I'm hoping for the best Blondie. If it doesn't work out, there's always a Spring hatch to look forward to. I feel badly for the moms when they're so dedicated but get no hatch.

Here's a pic I just got. Not the best, but you'll be able to see how quickly they grow. 2 of The younger ducklings are located at about 12:00 and 2 of the older ducklings are about 7:00. The adults are mixed in everywhere.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So many things can and do go wrong... I'm hoping for the best Blondie. If it doesn't work out, there's always a Spring hatch to look forward to. I feel badly for the moms when they're so dedicated but get no hatch.

Here's a pic I just got. Not the best, but you'll be able to see how quickly they grow. 2 of The younger ducklings are located at about 12:00 and 2 of the older ducklings are about 7:00. The adults are mixed in everywhere.

Beautiful ducks H. and love your Runners too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nothing to report.
She's still sitting.
I'm so afraid something has gone wrong and this just isn't going to happen this time.
I'm giving her through the weekend.
That wil be 35 days.

Gosh I hope something happens soon. Poor girl she has been so dedicated. You know there are ducklings so lets hope more are in there and hatching soon.