Rejected duckling!!! HELP

[Crazy Maizie]

I'm wondering if the egg was half hatched if it stuck to her when she left the nest? We often assume that they might have kicked the egg out, but it's not always the case. I had one half hatched, and I found it in the run. It didnt make it due to my own inexperience. But, I have since read that sometimes hatching eggs stick a bit to the mother duck and end up out of the nest.
It sound like things are working out for the little one.

 

[DuCKS333]

I think she would react immediately. Just my opinion.

So I put the duckling back with mum at 6pm last night uk time, checked on her every 30 minutes all evening and once half way through the night at 4.30am () and again this morning at 7am & 9.30am and everytime the baby was with mumma duck most of the time underneath her and seems to be getting on with the sibling very well. So fingers crossed they’re going to be a little happy family!

The little brood remain in a dark large chicken hut, we do have a house & run to move them to but I’m reluctant to do this yet as mum & new duckling are still very much so sitting on the nest. I’ve put some fairy lights inside the coop and there’s obviously duckling food & a safe water drinker for them too. But of course I would like them to have some proper natural light as soon as it’s possible to move her… any ideas when I should get her out? Leave her until she’s walking around the coop with the little ones?

 

[DuCKS333]

I'm wondering if the egg was half hatched if it stuck to her when she left the nest? We often assume that they might have kicked the egg out, but it's not always the case. I had one half hatched, and I found it in the run. It didnt make it due to my own inexperience. But, I have since read that sometimes hatching eggs stick a bit to the mother duck and end up out of the nest.
It sound like things are working out for the little one.

A very good point!! I guess we’ll never know but this is possible of course… plus it makes me feel better that she didn’t purposely leave it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd give her and ducklings some extra time once she is up walking around and you have a secure place for them then move them. As long as they have light where they are they will be fine until mama gets them up and going. When I have mama and ducklings they have their own space inside the coop with lattice [covered with plastic chicken fencing] as a barrier so mama and ducklings can't be bothered. Then when everyone goes out for the day I open the lattice fence up they have the run of the coop. This is first week. Once they are running along with mama they get to come outside and they have their own space outside where everyone can see them and vice versa. week 2, week 3 they are altogether with everyone, mama still takes them into their special room in the coop and I close off the lattice for the night. This is how I do everyone has their own way of keeping mama and ducklings safe.

 

[AfiafiAfi]

Oh god!I am late,hi DuCK333 I hope everything’s going ok with your momma duck and the abandoned baby?
(I read through everything over 3 times to make sure the baby was ok)

 

[Miss Lydia]

We do need an update please. @DuCKS333

 

[DuCKS333]

Hi all!!

You’ll be happy to know mumma and babies have been happily reunited since you lovely people told me to give it a go.

So far she’s a great mumma! Baby number 2 who was originally rejected is a lot smaller than number 1 but is acting completely normal. Is the size difference any I have to be concerned about?

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are looking great. duckling eating good? as long as they are getting good feed and active I wouldn't worry about the size. In the picture, they look really good and close to the same size? I'd give them a different waterer now they need to be able to dunk their heads. Something along these lines so they have room to dunk their heads but can’t climb into

thanks so much for updating with the precious pictures too

 

[DuCKS333]

They are looking great. duckling eating good? as long as they are getting good feed and active I wouldn't worry about the size. In the picture, they look really good and close to the same size? I'd give them a different waterer now they need to be able to dunk their heads. Something along these lines so they have room to dunk their heads but can’t climb intoView attachment 3022927thanks so much for updating with the precious pictures too

I have got 2 drinkers in there, the other is like this (picture attached & second picture is from my incubated last year but for size reference ) but I put the white one in as the red in runs out soooo often (especially when mumma duck walks on it! Haha) I do try to refill the red one 3 -4 times a day at least.

Do you think I need a bigger one than this too?
I’m not keen for them to get in water yet as it’s very cold in England and I think they’ll freeze!

 

[DuCKS333]

They are looking great. duckling eating good? as long as they are getting good feed and active I wouldn't worry about the size. In the picture, they look really good and close to the same size? I'd give them a different waterer now they need to be able to dunk their heads. Something along these lines so they have room to dunk their heads but can’t climb intoView attachment 3022927thanks so much for updating with the precious pictures too

Also one more question to add as I’ve only incubated before. Obviously adult ducks are not recommended to eat chick crumb. But when mumma duck is in there 24/7 it’s obviously impossible to stop her or feed her anything different incase the babies choke on it. Will her eating it have any adverse side effects??