My duck Gravy recently had a few eggs hatch and 2 babies that managed to survive,there were a few more eggs that she was still sitting on so once I saw the hatchlings I brought all 3 ducks inside and the eggs and made a temporary nest until the babies are ready to go outside. This all happened about a week ago.
Yesterday when I was checking up on the three of them I noticed another duckling who seemed like she just hatched stuck in a blanket on the opposite side of the nest,I decided to help her out and put her into the nest before leaving momentarily.
When I came back the hatchling who couldn’t walk much at the time due to just being born had managed to end up behind the door in an enclosed area while Momma and the other two ducklings were eating and drinking. Not sure what to do I put the duckling in an older tub with a heat lamp,small towel,bedding,and some water for the night.
This morning when I woke up and went to check on the duckling I tried to reintroduce her to her mother since she was able to walk now and upon running to her mother it looked like Momma tried to snap the hatchlings neck which I quickly stopped and I put the baby back into the brooder.
Throughout the day I’ve been spending hours at a time cuddling with the lone duckling but everytime I put her back she cries and calls out for me.
I’m not sure what to do from here,I don’t want to give her back to her mother after the rejection and I don’t have another duckling around her age for her to bond with since both her siblings are a week older than her. Shes been eating and drinking just fine when cuddling and napping with me but I can’t be next to her all the time due to my other birds outside and my other pets inside my house
Yesterday when I was checking up on the three of them I noticed another duckling who seemed like she just hatched stuck in a blanket on the opposite side of the nest,I decided to help her out and put her into the nest before leaving momentarily.
When I came back the hatchling who couldn’t walk much at the time due to just being born had managed to end up behind the door in an enclosed area while Momma and the other two ducklings were eating and drinking. Not sure what to do I put the duckling in an older tub with a heat lamp,small towel,bedding,and some water for the night.
This morning when I woke up and went to check on the duckling I tried to reintroduce her to her mother since she was able to walk now and upon running to her mother it looked like Momma tried to snap the hatchlings neck which I quickly stopped and I put the baby back into the brooder.
Throughout the day I’ve been spending hours at a time cuddling with the lone duckling but everytime I put her back she cries and calls out for me.
I’m not sure what to do from here,I don’t want to give her back to her mother after the rejection and I don’t have another duckling around her age for her to bond with since both her siblings are a week older than her. Shes been eating and drinking just fine when cuddling and napping with me but I can’t be next to her all the time due to my other birds outside and my other pets inside my house
! You might be able to put her in with her siblings. I have a week old duckling and just had two day-old ducklings shipped. They integrated with no problem at all. Ducks don't have much of a pecking order and it's almost non-existent at that age.
