Removing ducklings from mother to raise in brooder?

[Lydiacytlau]

Hi! My Indian runner has just hatched three ducklings todsy and i am considering whether to separate them from her and rest them in a heated indoor brooder. Looking for opjnions on this as i feel really bad taking them from her. My thinking is this... 1. She hatched a single duckling before which did not survive the night. She seemed a bit disinterested. 2. There are rats around the coop and I'm concerned they may target the duckling. 3. I cannot separate the drakes from the nesting area. Are these good reasons, or am I overthinking it and should let mamma get on with it? Thanks for opinions!

 

[Lydiacytlau]

Did not mean to write rest... I meant raise them in a brooder. Thanks!

 

[NatJ]

I'm not really a duck person, but those reasons sound sensible to me.

Letting a good mother raise her babies in safe conditions is one thing. But if she is disinterested, and you can more easily keep them safe in a brooder instead of the main pen, I think the brooder is probably a better choice for your circumstances.

 

[ruthhope]

Rats and drakes ate a great danger to little fluffies. I think you should raise tge ducklings in the brooder