Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[Going Quackers]

well we could meet at the border and I could just hand them over.

 

[mandelyn]

Yeah... my first time with a broody duck, and I haven't had a broody chicken in like 14 years. So I wasn't sure what to expect from the ducks. Maybe she's not terrible at it... but being just a duck. LOL But the chicken taking those chicks the way she did... she's just a good bird. I'll never sell her. She made those babies friendly too, because she doesn't mind me being around, so they don't mind anymore.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah... my first time with a broody duck, and I haven't had a broody chicken in like 14 years. So I wasn't sure what to expect from the ducks. Maybe she's not terrible at it... but being just a duck. LOL But the chicken taking those chicks the way she did... she's just a good bird. I'll never sell her. She made those babies friendly too, because she doesn't mind me being around, so they don't mind anymore.

That is so awesome that your hen accepted those chicks, I don't blame you for wanting to hold on to her. I have mama hens and chicks and mama ducks and ducklings right now and they are way different in their approach to raising their broods. Love to sit and watch them all. Post pics when you can.

 

[larkflying]

So, someone with momma duck experience . . .

One of my ducks hatched out two ducklings yesterday. She's still on her nest, in a 4 x 4 ft closed in movable chicken house -- it has a roof, but the sides are hardware cloth. It is small, so she can reach food and water without getting off the eggs (just did that when the babies started hatching) and the babies are bouncing around in there like little yellow fuzzballs. I'm going to go out today and check on the other eggs -- if none has pipped then I'll probably try giving them to one of my other broody ducks.

My question is that do all of you usually leave the ducklings with mama duck, or put them under a brooder light?

And, do you leave the duck outside with the other ducks, or do you put her into the barn or something till they get bigger?

I was hoping our weather would stay partly sunny, but I checked the forecast, and it is supposed to be 4 days of clouds and rain. I love the Northwest, but all this rain in June is depressing.

I have a separate outside area with some 8 wk old ducks and a few chickens . . .it is in the middle of the larger area, but I'm sure the ducklings could get out through the fence since they are so little. The 8 week old ducks are probably ready to go out with the flock . . . I was thinking about making the momma duck an area with some puppy fencing so the rooster doesn't bother her, but then I read about the rain . . . sigh.

And, I had a bantam Silkie hatch out a duckling and a chick. I don't know if it is because the duckling got SO big, SO quickly, or what, but she's gone broody again with them only 3 weeks old. I've had to clip her wings to keep her from flying up into the manger to start a new nest, while the poor abandoned duckling and chickie are peeping sadly from below . . . I hope my duck does better than that!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So, someone with momma duck experience . . .

One of my ducks hatched out two ducklings yesterday. She's still on her nest, in a 4 x 4 ft closed in movable chicken house -- it has a roof, but the sides are hardware cloth. It is small, so she can reach food and water without getting off the eggs (just did that when the babies started hatching) and the babies are bouncing around in there like little yellow fuzzballs. I'm going to go out today and check on the other eggs -- if none has pipped then I'll probably try giving them to one of my other broody ducks.

My question is that do all of you usually leave the ducklings with mama duck, or put them under a brooder light?

And, do you leave the duck outside with the other ducks, or do you put her into the barn or something till they get bigger?

I was hoping our weather would stay partly sunny, but I checked the forecast, and it is supposed to be 4 days of clouds and rain. I love the Northwest, but all this rain in June is depressing.

I have a separate outside area with some 8 wk old ducks and a few chickens . . .it is in the middle of the larger area, but I'm sure the ducklings could get out through the fence since they are so little. The 8 week old ducks are probably ready to go out with the flock . . . I was thinking about making the momma duck an area with some puppy fencing so the rooster doesn't bother her, but then I read about the rain . . . sigh.

And, I had a bantam Silkie hatch out a duckling and a chick. I don't know if it is because the duckling got SO big, SO quickly, or what, but she's gone broody again with them only 3 weeks old. I've had to clip her wings to keep her from flying up into the manger to start a new nest, while the poor abandoned duckling and chickie are peeping sadly from below . . . I hope my duck does better than that!

From my own experience I would leave mama and ducklings together. My mama ducks are in the duck house and everyone pretty much just leaves them alone. Not much wants to tangle with a mother. No one messed with the ducklings not even the drakes they have alot of room to stay away from each other, but I would keep an eye on everyone when you first let them out to be with the flock. Some hens [chicken] do better at brooding than mothering. I have seen it here. Your silkie is just doing what silkies do best, brood. lol As long as your area where mama and ducklings are and you can keep the rain and wind out they should be fine. Congrats on the babies. We are having temps in the 40's still at night and my 2 ducklings 3 weeks and 8 weeks snuggle together mamas are pretty much done with their job.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

I actually had a pekin hatch 8/9 ducks last year and she was laying on them 24/7 from the start. I thought this was the same one but now I'm thinking differently....

I'm not sure yet, but I think she laid on the last night.

 

[stonykill]

well we could meet at the border and I could just hand them over.

as long as you stop by here to visit on your way there or back

 

[larkflying]

Well, she still seems determined to sit on eggs, so I'm going to leave her for now and check this afternoon. I figure I can just leave her where she is until the rains stop. Then I'll see how brave I am about letting her free range. I'm a little worried that my ganders might steal her babies, since their goslings are getting so big.

So, at 3 weeks the ducklings don't need heat? My 3 week old duckling doesn't have anyone to huddle with (I don't count the chick, because it is a tiny bantam thing, not much bigger than a puff ball. ) It is in the barn now with a heat lamp, since it is practically as big as the momma hen. I think I'll take away any other ducklings that my broody hens hatch out, just to make things go more smoothly.

I'm tempted to put the duckling in the same area as the momma duck and her ducklings so it can get used to the whole, I'm a duck, concept. Then at least it would have some friends when it got ready to go in with the older ducks. I might try it and see how the momma duck does. It will be 4 weeks old on Monday and has a lot of feathers. If our weather would just cooperate. My 8 week old ducks were picking on it, (but scared of the bantam chick lol) so I don't want to throw it in with the 5 of them yet. Maybe after I rehome the two extra males . . .

I love having the ducklings and goslings around, but I'm going to be happy when everything is hatched and out on its own. It is exhausting juggling who can go where. That is why I'm really hoping the new ducklings can stay outside with the mom.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, she still seems determined to sit on eggs, so I'm going to leave her for now and check this afternoon. I figure I can just leave her where she is until the rains stop. Then I'll see how brave I am about letting her free range. I'm a little worried that my ganders might steal her babies, since their goslings are getting so big.

So, at 3 weeks the ducklings don't need heat? My 3 week old duckling doesn't have anyone to huddle with (I don't count the chick, because it is a tiny bantam thing, not much bigger than a puff ball. ) It is in the barn now with a heat lamp, since it is practically as big as the momma hen. I think I'll take away any other ducklings that my broody hens hatch out, just to make things go more smoothly.

I'm tempted to put the duckling in the same area as the momma duck and her ducklings so it can get used to the whole, I'm a duck, concept. Then at least it would have some friends when it got ready to go in with the older ducks. I might try it and see how the momma duck does. It will be 4 weeks old on Monday and has a lot of feathers. If our weather would just cooperate. My 8 week old ducks were picking on it, (but scared of the bantam chick lol) so I don't want to throw it in with the 5 of them yet. Maybe after I rehome the two extra males . . .

I love having the ducklings and goslings around, but I'm going to be happy when everything is hatched and out on its own. It is exhausting juggling who can go where. That is why I'm really hoping the new ducklings can stay outside with the mom.

It is very stressful, I am sitting on pins and needles right now, my mama duck has this 1 egg that has now pipped externally and I am so hoping it finally makes it out.

even though it's not been a good year for fertility here I really don't want to lose any more. My 3 week old ducklings has not had it's mama to snuggle with for at least 3 nights now it's been snuggling with the 8 week old at night but during the day has been on it's on. Doing great too. The last night it slept with it's mama I came out to let them out and it was snuggling with the egg it's mama had just laid.

Probably be a good idea to fix your 3 week old some kind of shelter close to your mama duck and ducklings so it will know what it is when it gets big enough to get with the flock, Make sure it's out of rain and wind with lots of comfy bedding and of course it's hatch mate and they will probably be fine. My gander has been wonderful with our ducklings this year. He has finally found his calling, Papa Goose. Maybe your gander will just be baby sitter while mama duck has some time to herself, thats what mines been doing.

 

[ForeverSunshine]

Hey, everyone! No ducklings yet, but another question has popped up. I believe somebody just asked this, but do ducklings need a heat lamp if they're with their mom?