- Apr 17, 2012
- 28
- 2
- 34
My pekin duck has been sitting for 23 days. Very broody. I am hoping she knows what to do - she has never hatched babies, nor have I.
The drake is new to the family. He has followed "Missy" around as she taught him our daily duck routines. She still seems to be the "dominant" duck of the pair. He wanders around all day, sometimes going in to check on her. Missy comes out in the evening to swim and peck in the grass. He stays with her at that time, following her lead. When she goes back in to her nest, he goes in with her and sleeps near her. (During the day he and one of our dogs take naps near each other.)
Has anyone ever had a gentle-natured drake become part of a newly hatched family? I am ready to split the pen if needed.
I had pet rats years ago, and was told the male would always try to kill the babies. My male was the best "babysitter" in the world! He took care of the newborns. Do drakes ever become "family guys"??
Also - when I put up my "nursery" pen, do I keep a kiddie pool in it for mom (that is too high for baby access), and a small shallow one for the babies? How old before mama teaches them to go to any water? (I will have a brooder water container in the pen.)
How long before the babies can follow mama duck from barn pen to grass yard pen - about 90 ft. across dirt area.
Most forum discussions are about incubator babies. I don't think I will be in complete control of any of these babies (if they hatch.) I am pretty sure mama will tell me where to get off...! (I'm not sure she even knows what is in those eggs.)
The drake is new to the family. He has followed "Missy" around as she taught him our daily duck routines. She still seems to be the "dominant" duck of the pair. He wanders around all day, sometimes going in to check on her. Missy comes out in the evening to swim and peck in the grass. He stays with her at that time, following her lead. When she goes back in to her nest, he goes in with her and sleeps near her. (During the day he and one of our dogs take naps near each other.)
Has anyone ever had a gentle-natured drake become part of a newly hatched family? I am ready to split the pen if needed.
I had pet rats years ago, and was told the male would always try to kill the babies. My male was the best "babysitter" in the world! He took care of the newborns. Do drakes ever become "family guys"??
Also - when I put up my "nursery" pen, do I keep a kiddie pool in it for mom (that is too high for baby access), and a small shallow one for the babies? How old before mama teaches them to go to any water? (I will have a brooder water container in the pen.)
How long before the babies can follow mama duck from barn pen to grass yard pen - about 90 ft. across dirt area.
Most forum discussions are about incubator babies. I don't think I will be in complete control of any of these babies (if they hatch.) I am pretty sure mama will tell me where to get off...! (I'm not sure she even knows what is in those eggs.)
