Outside Hatchings in November

[ChickenTenderNow]

About four months ago we took in a male and female duck from someone who had picked them up as ducklings earlier in the year. We already have chickens for years and the Ducks fit nicely into the run and have their own shelter and all that good stuff.

Well about a month ago it appeared as though the female went Broody (to my surprise... since she is practically a baby herself and it was October)... We've had some very brutally cold temperatures in the single digits but they weren't handled or liked much in their last home so we pretty much provided extra straw and nearby food and water and left her alone. I honestly did not expect her to hatch babies much less all 6! This morning we saw 6 baby ducklings and she has been walking them around the yard and had them swimming in the kiddie pool... But it is November in Colorado? Is this okay?



The temperatures are beautiful 60's right now but we are going to be dropping down to the forties in twenties for the next week... Is this all okay?

 

[sourland]

I would be tempted to take away the swimming water so that the ducklings do not become wet and hypothermic. Good luck.

 

[416bigbore]

That sounds so Cute, Any pics to post? Best of luck and please keep us posted.

 

[springvalley123]

I used to have ducks, and they raised 3 clutches, but all in the summer north of Phoenix AZ. One mother was more watchful than the other and would watch them while they were in the water, which was only a 3-gallon 4 inch deep water bowl. But the other mother, let one baby get away and I found it unattended, in the mom's water (a 5 inch deep 21 gal mixing tub). I plucked it out, it seemed OK, but died later. So, I second the advice to take away the kiddie pool. Maybe at times you could provide something much smaller for them, and deep enough for mom to stick her hole head in, and maybe sometimes provide something that mom can bathe in, while mom is supervised.
I hope you enjoy the new ducklings!

 

[ChickenTenderNow]

I did drain most of the KIDDIE pool and put a lil bridge going into the remaining 2 inches out of rocks. I will dump their bigger bucket tomorrow.

This is a screen shot off of the video I took earlier when I was SHOCKED to see them all wading in probably 45 degree water at a day old. She does seem to be very attentive but she wasn't hand raised and doesnt really like us humans so she attacks me when I touch her babies... which I did earlier to get them all out of this pool. Rhat bbn I have since taken most of the water out of.


I am still very worried for them because they are so young and she has them outside on the ground under and around her now, at night, instead of in their duck house in the bedding. But like I said, short of taking them away from her which feels cruel, I have to just trust her since she knew enough to keep them warm and successfully hatch every one of the eggs under her.

 

[ChickenTenderNow]

Here is a BEAUTIFUL ONE I screenshot Ted out of this morning's discovery video.

 

[TomCahalan]

They can handle cold water because they have access to their mother's preen oil. They can also snuggle with her for warmth. Ducklings raised by their mother can handle far more than ducklings hatched in an incubator.

 

[ChickenTenderNow]

Thankyou