Mine eat them to and so far they are all still alive, I know cockroaches carry disease but lets hope they aren't the kind our flock can catch. I don't know how we would stop them from eating them. These mine eat are the wood roaches that hide under fire wood and in the woods.
Congrats to mama and you. as far as getting them to like you don't try and force it, my little ones from last year will eat out of my hand but really don't like to be picked up, neither does their mama. let her do the raising and you just be there quietly doing what you do around your flock they will recognize you as their care giver. Mine warmed up to me with dried mealworms but I would break them up in my hand before offering them to the tiny ones. mama should leave the nest in 2-3 days be sure to put feed and water close by so the ducklings can find it, if she isn't up by 3-4 days I'd candle remaining eggs to see if there are any hatching, no sense in her sitting if none are going to hatch she needs to be out taking care of her babies. actually you could candle now that way you'd know.
Ahhhh! I don't think I could ever let my son outside if there were rattle snacks around! Especially one that big! You are so braveUpdating with a picture of my six ducks. Three Blue Swedish and three Khaki Campbells. You can see that they are loosing the last of their duckling feathers and dressing up in their adult finest. The male Khaki is upper left and is pretty obvious. He is going to have a great dark brown/black greenish head and neck by the time he if finished. The Swedish I am not so sure of. I thought the black one was the male but the grey and white with no top knot is now the largest and is beginning to take on the habits of leading the others around. Yesterday I was putting everyone away for the night and almost stepped on a rattle snake in the ducks run. Must have come in for water. I managed to get the ducks out of the pen and, as you can see, using a shot gun divided the snakes head from its body.
Ditto...whenever I'm out back with my duck
Will never laugh at that fear. Mine are snakes and spiders. I have the belief that anything that has less than two legs or more than four legs (and is not handicapped) has no right to exist.Oh and btw, I totally know my fear of snakes is rediculouse, so don't feel bad laughing.
