Hi Gardengoats11,
Have you had any issues with your ducks accepting ducklings that hatch 2-3 days later? My last 2 hens hatched 4 eggs each and another one showed up 3 and 4 days later. Each time the new one died. The 1st time this happened, the hen would peck at her occasionally and ignore her struggles to climb to the nest which Mom had built quite a berm of straw around. She also got stepped on a lot. On day 2 I took her inside but she was too weak and died while I held her. The 2nd time, a new duckling showed up one morning and while I was watching over her, the hen also pecked at her a few times, then settled down. This one seemed stronger and able to avoid Mom's feet easier. I went back in the afternoon to monitor them for awhile and found the new duckling trampled. Now I have a hen sitting on 14 eggs and I think I will only let her keep the ones that hatch the 1st day. Any after that are moving to grow-out pens. I would prefer to let nature take it's course but I am not seeing a whole lot of motherly behaviour in my Runners so far. How common is this? Feedback from others who have let their Runners raise the kids would be much appreciated.
