Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[EmilyP]

Good luck on your hatch!

Thanks! One hatched this afternoon! Mom is WH dad is either Pekin or mallard.

 

[Louise Waffles]

Thanks! One hatched this afternoon! Mom is WH dad is either Pekin or mallard.

Oh geeeez, the cuteness! I have a Muscovy sitting on some chicken eggs now, but the next broody? I need ducklings. Definitely.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks! One hatched this afternoon! Mom is WH dad is either Pekin or mallard.

How precious.

 

[EmilyP]

We have 8 little darlings!! No clue the parentage tho!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

We have 8 little darlings!! No clue the parentage tho!!

Does it matter, from what I saw they are all adorable lil bundles of fluff. Enjoy!!

 

[Louise Waffles]

We have 8 little darlings!! No clue the parentage tho!!

Congratulations!

 

[EmilyP]

So my broody momma somehow got out of our (makeshift) brooder pen last night.... 3' high fencing and i've only seen her get about 1ft off the ground trying to fly.... she could not get back in. . She also was soaking wet.... :-( Any thoughts on why she may have done this???? ((she has not taken a bath in over a week to my knowledge, every time she gets in the water our mallard is on top of her or just chases the crap outta her and she gave up and went back to the house)) After she was back in the broody pen her babes huddled under her for warmth.

I don't want to take them away from her but if shes going to keep leaving them.... also it was the coldest night we've had in a while, idk how long they were alone. This afternoon when all the other ducks are at the pond I'm going to let her and the babies have full run of the pen, she may just be going stir crazy being penned up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So my broody momma somehow got out of our (makeshift) brooder pen last night.... 3' high fencing and i've only seen her get about 1ft off the ground trying to fly.... she could not get back in. . She also was soaking wet.... :-( Any thoughts on why she may have done this???? ((she has not taken a bath in over a week to my knowledge, every time she gets in the water our mallard is on top of her or just chases the crap outta her and she gave up and went back to the house)) After she was back in the broody pen her babes huddled under her for warmth.

I don't want to take them away from her but if shes going to keep leaving them.... also it was the coldest night we've had in a while, idk how long they were alone. This afternoon when all the other ducks are at the pond I'm going to let her and the babies have full run of the pen, she may just be going stir crazy being penned up.

What breed are we talking about again? That isn't too good being away from her ducklings so long. Is there any way to cover the top of her fenced area to keep her inside at least till the worst of the weather is over. How much room does she have inside?

 

[EmilyP]

Quote:
She is a welsh harlequin. I can cover the top with chicken wire, which was originally the plan but never happened. She doesn't have as much space as i would like. She has a large dog house that is in and protected and then we have a 10' piece of fencing looped around the front of the house for some outdoor space, the layout of the pen just doesn't work for this situation. (DH is working on a new layout to make it work better but that will take a little time before it can happen.) After today we should be in the 70-80s during the day and cooling down at night into the 50s. I know she needs more room but i'm concerned about leaving the pen open all day and the babies either getting out of the big pen through the gaps or something coming in and getting them (snake etc). When we are home we let her out but she hasn't really wanted to leave her pen then. Also concerned about one of the drakes harming the babies if we open it up with him in there.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote: Very good reasons for keeping her and ducklings as safe as possible. I remember now her breed. such pretty ducklings too. Well I'd keep her inside for now and try giving her more room on the outside of the dog house. How are the ducklings doing today hopefully okay after being separated from mom for a while. No telling what may have prompted her into going over the fence hopefully she won't do it again.. Is she being a good mom and relaxed around her ducklings.