- Jan 31, 2014
- 12
- 2
- 24
Hello, I just hatched 6 ducklings from my female mallard's first batch of eggs. I was eager to put the last chick in with the others and am afraid now that I put him with the others too soon. he wasn't completely dry and fluffed up but the box his siblings are in is so warm I thought he'd be fine. I recently notice one of his eyes seems to be damaged or possibly not even there. Could this be a birth defect or could the other ducklings have done this to him? they did peck at him some when he joined them but they had done that with each that was added.
On another issue, our female is alone She is very lonely since her male flew away. We thought she would love the babies but their first meeting didn't go well at all. She fluffed up her feathers and then lunged at them. I have since brought her in for a few minutes at a time and had a barrier between them. At what age will she accept them? I thought for sure she would love the company since she has taken to following even the cat around looking for companionship. The baby mallards are just over a week now. I'm full of questions so here's another one, my older daughter took 2 of the babies back to her college dorm with her. She will be home next weekend with them and needs to leave them home. She just wanted to bond for a bit and not miss out on all the baby stuff we are getting to do. So, after 2 weeks absence will the other babies accept these 2 siblings back with them?
On another issue, our female is alone She is very lonely since her male flew away. We thought she would love the babies but their first meeting didn't go well at all. She fluffed up her feathers and then lunged at them. I have since brought her in for a few minutes at a time and had a barrier between them. At what age will she accept them? I thought for sure she would love the company since she has taken to following even the cat around looking for companionship. The baby mallards are just over a week now. I'm full of questions so here's another one, my older daughter took 2 of the babies back to her college dorm with her. She will be home next weekend with them and needs to leave them home. She just wanted to bond for a bit and not miss out on all the baby stuff we are getting to do. So, after 2 weeks absence will the other babies accept these 2 siblings back with them?