Hi,
just wanted to let everyone know that my pekin has hatched her own and she is teaching the young one to swim clean himself etc. He is 4 days old. I first saw him in her watering tote 6 deep and 3ft long. had to get him out he was cold wrapped it in a towel dried him a little and put him with mom. She has since gone out and swam in her tote and little one has a baking dish that he goes in. It is so much fun watching them. about 3 weeks ago all 4 duck and a goose came to the back step and was raising such a fuss, finally they went to the pond, so I checked her nest and found an eight ft black snake. I don't like killing them but figured he would be back so I did and then took it to the pond to show her I got him. Ever since then she doesn't bother when I check her nest. Started with 10 eggs and hatched one, three still in incubator stage. She is such a good mom cant even think of her not taking care of them, the baby is called hop along by my granddaughter.
My question is how soon can I let her take the little one to the pond? property is completely fenced with mowed lawn all around. the only predators would be maybe hawks. I had the first 3 mailed and kept them isolated for first 5 weeks till their feathers were white. She is always wanting to go to the pond with the rest of them. ?