- Jan 1, 2014
- 16
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We lost our Indian Runner girl to a predator a few days ago. She had been sitting on a nest of eggs. When we discovered what happened, the eggs were cold but we put them in a homemade incubator. Today one is starting to hatch! My question is, how do I keep them from imprinting improperly? I don't want them to imprint to me, but right now we only have three adult ducks, all male, and I don't think they can raise ducklings.
Last year we had only one surviving duckling and the mom ignored it and the males were aggressive towards it, so we raised it with some new chicks. As a result he grew up thinking he was a chicken, and he has never really been accepted by the other ducks.
I would like these new ducklings (assuming they hatch and survive - hoping!!!!!) to know they are ducks - what should I do? I don't want them to imprint to humans but I am afraid to put them with the male ducks.
Last year we had only one surviving duckling and the mom ignored it and the males were aggressive towards it, so we raised it with some new chicks. As a result he grew up thinking he was a chicken, and he has never really been accepted by the other ducks.
I would like these new ducklings (assuming they hatch and survive - hoping!!!!!) to know they are ducks - what should I do? I don't want them to imprint to humans but I am afraid to put them with the male ducks.