Our first hatch!!!

[EverythingZen]

after a few false starts, we finally got a successful hatch out of one of our girls. Little Winsor has been sitting on her nest diligently for weeks now. I wasn’t sure exactly when she started, so it’s been a bit of a wait and see. This morning one of the dogs went down to her and was carrying on like a pork chop and Winsor was getting super cranky. So I ran down to separate them and was stunned to see Winsor had a little flock!! 14 babies all up. 2 eggs didn’t hatch but only 1 of them had a baby in it anyway.

I’ve now got a thousand questions!
They have chick starter to eat with 20-22% protein. I should add grit to this, right?
Winsor and the babies are secured in a disused rabbit hutch for the night with sawdust and food and water. The temperature here isn’t too bad. It’s the 1st day of spring and the days are lovely.
Will they need anything else added for these first few weeks?
Is 14 a good hatch rate for a clutch? All babies look very healthy, all are active and eating well. Is there anything to watch out for specifically?

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

Ooo they're adorable! You must be so excited. How do you manage to tear yourself away from watching them?

I can't answer any of your questions, as I have no experience with ducks. Perhaps @WVduckchick or @casportpony may be able to help.

 

[JedJackson]

If they are wandering around outside during the day, they shouldn't need grit. You can give it to them to be certain, but they will usually get what they need while foraging.

Sawdust might be okay as bedding, but often babies will eat it and it can cause pasty butt, where fecal matter gets stuck to their vents and dries, so they can't eliminate. I would check each duckling to make sure they don't have it.

14 is a large hatch. So long as the duck can cover them all at night, things will be fine. When they get too big to fit under her is when you need to worry about night time temperatures. So long as they don't go too low, you should be fine then, too.

Make sure they have clean water and food available at all times. If the feed is medicated, you need to keep mama duck from eating much of it. It might be best to switch to a non-medicated flock started if it is medicated, to make things easier, and then to a grower feed after a few weeks.

They are adorable and I hope you enjoy them.

 

[chickens really]

Very cute..You don't need to add Grit to Chick starter and Momma will teach them everything that they need to know. Feed and water provided at all times. I use pine shavings with all my Ducklings and have never had a problem. Switch to a Grower feed at 3 weeks..

 

[WVduckchick]

That’s a fabulous hatch! Especially if she is a first timer!! They are adorable.

Agree with @chickens really momma will handle it. Water is key, deep enough to clean their nares, but not too deep that they could drown in it. I use pebbles in the water trough for the first few days, so they can noodle between. 24 hour access to drinking water for the first 3 weeks.

They should all snuggle under momma for probably a week or two, and they should still be ok down to near freezing temps, but provide somewhere to get out of the wind would be about all I would worry about. They will feather quickly outside with her.

Such a fun adventure! Enjoy!!

 

[JedJackson]

That’s a fabulous hatch! Especially if she is a first timer!! They are adorable.

Agree with @chickens really momma will handle it. Water is key, deep enough to clean their nares, but not too deep that they could drown in it. I use pebbles in the water trough for the first few days, so they can noodle between. 24 hour access to drinking water for the first 3 weeks.

They should all snuggle under momma for probably a week or two, and they should still be ok down to near freezing temps, but provide somewhere to get out of the wind would be about all I would worry about. They will feather quickly outside with her.

Such a fun adventure! Enjoy!!

Great post and excellent advice about the pebbles in the waterer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats to Mama Winsor and you for such a great hatch and adorable little ones.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Congratulations! Enjoy this precious fuzz babies!!!!

 

[happy duck]

YAY!!!!

 

[casportpony]

Is 14 a good hatch rate for a clutch?

That's a great sized clutch! Congrats, they are adorable!