Q's about Raising duckling with their Mother

[Dorsetducks]

Hi

I'm new here! I have two female ducks and a drake.

One of my girls went broody almost 28 days ago (on Weds). She's sitting on 6 eggs, 3 of hers and 3 of the other females.

So this is all new to me as I've only had them just over a year and now I have lots of questions about how to care for the mother and her babies. I hope you can help please.

So today when she came off the nest to eat I noticed one of the shells was slightly broken and this afternoon one was moving and I could hear cheaping! This is all very exciting as I wasn't sure we'd get any babies but now I don't know how to care for them.

My q's:-

1. She made her nest on top of a bale of straw, I'm worried the ducklings will fall and injure themselves but worried if I now start to play with the nest that I will upset her. What should I do?
2. Should I keep her and ducklings separate from the other two? They have a pond so am worried about ducklings drowning. (Although I understand their feathers are waterproof from the mother if incubated naturally?)
3. I'm assuming I don't need a heat lamp as the mother is their heat, is this correct?
4. I have read to give them unmedicated chick crumb and shallow water dishes to feed from. Again is this correct?
5. Will the mother take care of the ducklings and not abandon them once hatched?
6. Is straw ok as bedding for ducklings?
7. Is there anything else I should be thinking of at this time?

Sorry for all the q's! I would have posted sooner but wasn't sure if we'd get any babies although I understand hatching in itself is precarious for the ducklings. Am
Hoping she'll get at least one for all her hard work!

Thanks for reading.

 

[Amiga]

No apologies necessary - you are right to be concerned about them falling. What can you build that will prevent that?

There is a 2014-2015 broody duck thread you can post to, where members with duck mommas can help you out.

I often refer people to @Miss Lydia or @Going Quackers but there are many more. I think @sourland would be a good one to contact.

 

[TLWR]

1 - I'd leave it for now, but keep an eye on them. Once somebody falls (isn't going to hurt them from a bale of hay) or they are all hatched, then move the nest down.
2 - yes, the other adults may not be so thrilled about the babies and can injure them
3 - correct, but keep an eye on them in case mom isn't keeping them warm (and depending on where you are, this might not be too much an issue right now)
4 - You can do unmedicated if you can find it, or flock raiser or if you can find duckling specific, that works too. You might want to add niacin to either their food or water, regardless of what you feed them
5 - time will tell. Again, keep an eye out and be ready to get them in a brooder if mom decides she doesn't want to deal with them
6 - shouldn't be a big issue, but it can be pokey. so keep an eye out they aren't poking themselves in the eyes. There are better options, but straw can work if that's all you have access to
7 - a camera for pictures!

 

[Dorsetducks]

Thank you for the replies!

So we have three babies this morning! she hasn't moved from the nest in 24 hrs (am assuming she's waiting for any others to arrive?) I've been taking her food and water to her but not leaving it so the ducklings can take any. When will they need to start to feed and if straw isn't best for bedding what is?

I already have some pics and an amazing video!

They are separated from the others by a partition but the others could fly into her pen I guess so am thinking I should move them or devise a better plan once any other eggs have hatched.

The babies are under her at the moment, I'm just worried once they start to want to travel!