Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[Miss Lydia]

congrats Miss Lydia. Beautiful lil duckling you have there. And mama too of course

Thanks stony, she seems to be doing well considering she was so stuck inside that egg.

 

[ForeverSunshine]

Duckling is hatched completely.. Looks great too. Mama was very happy to tuck it back under her..

Yay! Congrats!

 

[larkflying]

So . . . a second bantam hen hatched a duckling today. Is there anything wrong with me putting the baby under my current momma duck with 2 4 day old babies? Would she notice a third? The hen has two more eggs, but they weren't even pipped, so I think they have awhile left before hatching. If they do hatch I'll probably have to brood them, but wanted the first duckling to have a mom if possible . . .

 

[Miss Lydia]

So . . . a second bantam hen hatched a duckling today. Is there anything wrong with me putting the baby under my current momma duck with 2 4 day old babies? Would she notice a third? The hen has two more eggs, but they weren't even pipped, so I think they have awhile left before hatching. If they do hatch I'll probably have to brood them, but wanted the first duckling to have a mom if possible . . .

I'd go out after dark that' s the way you do chickens, The only problem i would see is the duckling will be a little wobbly and may not be able to keep up with the 4 day olds, but give it a try if you can be right there it intervene if needed.

 

[larkflying]

That was what I was thinking -- if I sneak out at dusk, give the baby to the mom, and then keep them shut up in the chicken tractor for a couple days, it should be bouncing around like the other two. The first two were running all around within 12 hours of hatching it seemed like, so I think (fingers crossed) that it will just barely be able to fit in . . .

I feel a little bad for the banty hen . . . but after observing my other banty hen, I think she'll just be happy to brood another batch of eggs . . .

 

[Margot50]

I'm a murderer!!
I was candling Daphne's eggs tonight and she pecked at me and I dropped the egg and it cracked!!!! I thought that since it cracked I should remove it from the nest. I made the mistake of cracking it open. The baby was pretty far along and opened and closed its cute little beak!!!! I killed it!!!! Guilt guilt guilt!!

 

[donnavee]

I'll do you even one better - actually worse. A few months ago, I hatched 3 ducklings in the bator - all good, cute little things and so friendly. I had them out of their tub playing (2 wks old), and went into the kitchen to get them fresh water. As I walked back into the brooder room, they all came running toward me, somehow I lost my balance and stepped one one of them. I could not believe how stup[id I was. I cried so hard. Now I shuffle my feet around baby ducks and chicks. So sorry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm a murderer!!
I was candling Daphne's eggs tonight and she pecked at me and I dropped the egg and it cracked!!!! I thought that since it cracked I should remove it from the nest. I made the mistake of cracking it open. The baby was pretty far along and opened and closed its cute little beak!!!! I killed it!!!! Guilt guilt guilt!!

I am sorry I know you feel awful.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'll do you even one better - actually worse. A few months ago, I hatched 3 ducklings in the bator - all good, cute little things and so friendly. I had them out of their tub playing (2 wks old), and went into the kitchen to get them fresh water. As I walked back into the brooder room, they all came running toward me, somehow I lost my balance and stepped one one of them. I could not believe how stup[id I was. I cried so hard. Now I shuffle my feet around baby ducks and chicks. So sorry.

And you too donnavee how devasting for you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was what I was thinking -- if I sneak out at dusk, give the baby to the mom, and then keep them shut up in the chicken tractor for a couple days, it should be bouncing around like the other two. The first two were running all around within 12 hours of hatching it seemed like, so I think (fingers crossed) that it will just barely be able to fit in . . .

I feel a little bad for the banty hen . . . but after observing my other banty hen, I think she'll just be happy to brood another batch of eggs . . .

How'd it go?