Old fashioned Broody Thread for Ducks

[larkflying]

ForeverSunshine -- If they are with the momma duck, they should be fine. My problem is the duckling that was hatched by a broody hen, who has since moved on to more eggs and broodiness . . . leaving duckling behind sad and worried. So I'm thinking that I'll try putting it with my momma duck and her two little babies . . . or maybe I'll leave it in the barn and bring momma and babies into the barn as well, to help it acclimate.

Miss Lydia -- Your gander sounds so sweet. Mine might be like that, but I have three, and they are currently involved in raising 12 scraggly goslings, so they might not be thinking such parental thoughts. They are spending a lot of time around the Momma Duck and her babies, but that may be because they see that she has food and they feel like they need some food as well . . .

 

[Miss Lydia]

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?

No they do not she will keep them toasty warm

 

[ForeverSunshine]

No they do not she will keep them toasty warm

That's what I thought. Thanks!

 

[ForeverSunshine]

ForeverSunshine -- If they are with the momma duck, they should be fine. My problem is the duckling that was hatched by a broody hen, who has since moved on to more eggs and broodiness . . . leaving duckling behind sad and worried. So I'm thinking that I'll try putting it with my momma duck and her two little babies . . . or maybe I'll leave it in the barn and bring momma and babies into the barn as well, to help it acclimate.

Miss Lydia -- Your gander sounds so sweet. Mine might be like that, but I have three, and they are currently involved in raising 12 scraggly goslings, so they might not be thinking such parental thoughts. They are spending a lot of time around the Momma Duck and her babies, but that may be because they see that she has food and they feel like they need some food as well . . .

OH! Okay! I didn't read your whole post, so I wasn't sure. Best of luck for your ducklings!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you can find the right spot for your duckling that has lost it mama so to speak. does it still have the chick with it.? Well this past thurs went to check on my broody duck and her egg and when i listened i could here tapping, oh my got so excited because i really didn't have much hope for this lil duckling, then on Friday morn a teeny tiny pip, could hear it peeping and no progress yesterday at all. So this morning I made a tiny little slit in the membrane and chipped a tiny piece of shell away, put it back under mama and went to church, then checked on it again when i got home still no progress so this time I got some warm water in a spray bottle and armed with oxine spray and warm water spray and tweezers went back out to see if i could do anything to help, so first off I spray a little warm water into the opening and the ducklings opened its mouth and had a little water, then i began the tedious job of removing some more membrane and shell, I did this one more time this afternoon until I saw a tiny bit of blood, so back under momma it is again. I think it can make it's way out now if it's not too exhausted from the last 3 days of trying. It still had a pretty good peep going for it. I think now it's up to the duckling, I am sorry if maybe i did the wrong thing but I really don't think it could get out, it was stuck. so it now has a chance, the hole is about the size of a half dollar so please pray that it will be able to fully hatch now and it will be okay. Thank you all, I have never done anything like this before and hopefully won't have to again but this little on deserved a chance.

 

[larkflying]

Oh I hope your duckling makes it !

My little lone duckling is still in the barn with the little bantam chick. Tried putting it in with momma duck, and she wasn't happy with that solution. So, we'll give it another week in the barn and then I'll see what I think. If I have a few more ducklings hatch, I might just brood them all together in the barn with the big duckling, and then they will end up being a group . . . . don't like introducing one duckling to the flock . . .

 

[stargazingmommy]

My chicken is sitting on a duck egg. I candled it and it looks great, between half and 1/3 of the top is air cell. I could see something moving inside, but I honestly can't remember when I put the egg under her. I'm thinking its been 3 weeks, at least, possibly closer to 4, which means it should be hatching soon right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh I hope your duckling makes it !

My little lone duckling is still in the barn with the little bantam chick. Tried putting it in with momma duck, and she wasn't happy with that solution. So, we'll give it another week in the barn and then I'll see what I think. If I have a few more ducklings hatch, I might just brood them all together in the barn with the big duckling, and then they will end up being a group . . . . don't like introducing one duckling to the flock . . .

I don't like introducing onesies either. My 3 week old duckling and 8 week old have become best friends sleeping together too. Mamas are done with them. I went out before dark and looked at the egg/duckling again and it's still got plenty of spunk, now it''s up to mama and duckling hope to find it nice and dry in the morning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My chicken is sitting on a duck egg. I candled it and it looks great, between half and 1/3 of the top is air cell. I could see something moving inside, but I honestly can't remember when I put the egg under her. I'm thinking its been 3 weeks, at least, possibly closer to 4, which means it should be hatching soon right?

Should be getting close, let us know.

 

[donnavee]

I hope you can find the right spot for your duckling that has lost it mama so to speak. does it still have the chick with it.? Well this past thurs went to check on my broody duck and her egg and when i listened i could here tapping, oh my got so excited because i really didn't have much hope for this lil duckling, then on Friday morn a teeny tiny pip, could hear it peeping and no progress yesterday at all. So this morning I made a tiny little slit in the membrane and chipped a tiny piece of shell away, put it back under mama and went to church, then checked on it again when i got home still no progress so this time I got some warm water in a spray bottle and armed with oxine spray and warm water spray and tweezers went back out to see if i could do anything to help, so first off I spray a little warm water into the opening and the ducklings opened its mouth and had a little water, then i began the tedious job of removing some more membrane and shell, I did this one more time this afternoon until I saw a tiny bit of blood, so back under momma it is again. I think it can make it's way out now if it's not too exhausted from the last 3 days of trying. It still had a pretty good peep going for it. I think now it's up to the duckling, I am sorry if maybe i did the wrong thing but I really don't think it could get out, it was stuck. so it now has a chance, the hole is about the size of a half dollar so please pray that it will be able to fully hatch now and it will be okay. Thank you all, I have never done anything like this before and hopefully won't have to again but this little on deserved a chance.

I hope the little one makes it out - sounds like you have done a great job trying to help.