~~~~~~~~~~~~PLEASE HELP~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[louandneil]

I have a khaki cambell duck that has been sitting on eggs for about 32 days. However since she has been sitting, my one chicken and my other two ducks have been adding to her collection for about the first 2 weeks I think. This morning their is a baby chick hatched and no other sign of pipping. Will she look after the chick that has hatched or will she neglect as she is still sitting. Also she is in a shed where my other 3 ducks (including a male) and my chicken and cockeral all sleep. How do I go about making sure the chick has feed and water and will the other animals want to kill it. Should I seperate them? PLEASE HELP I AM DESPERATE

 

[oberhaslikid]

Ducks take 26-28 days to hatch chickens only 21 so this is why the chick hatched earlier. I have had a hen raise baby ducks but never a duck raise a chick. In fear she would take it to the water expecting it to swim.
If it was me I would take the chick and put under a lightin a box untill more hatch or put under a broody hen if you have one.
You may end up raising it alone.Give it food an water in the box.
I save 10 gallon aquariams for this case senerio.

 

[louandneil]

Thank you for your reply. I know they hatch at different times but to complicate it more when the others have been adding to it daily it has messed up the times so she may still have some to hatch. Do you think the other animals will harm the chick?

 

[oberhaslikid]

Not sure they would harm the chick as much as it get trampled. I have silkies that set all the time the rooster still try to breed them as the set on a nest.If you dont want to seperate the chick I would just keep an eye on it. If you put a chick water and feeder in just for the chick the big ones may eat it too.Is there any way you can put up a wire barrier to seperate mom from others in the coop?Leave the chick in there and see if she takes it. The chick would have space to roam and find the feed an water.

 

[louandneil]

yeah thats a good idea. I coupld out up a pen just on the one nest box and bit around it so the others can come in but not touch them. Thanks