Should I be worried about my hatching eggs- 3 ducklings

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

@X3Jack930 and @JaeG how are the littles today? I let my little call ducklings out today and they were chasing the guinea fowl! It was quite funny to watch...

 

[JaeG]

@X3Jack930 and @JaeG how are the littles today? I let my little call ducklings out today and they were chasing the guinea fowl! It was quite funny to watch...

That's hilarious! It's not about how big you are - it's all about attitude.

Our Muscovies are so very cute. They are finally working out how to eat out of the bowl rather than off my fingers. I just adore them.

I'm going to have to put a lower wattage bulb in and lift their heat lamp up because they sit halfway across the brooder from the light so they must be too hot.

I'm relying on them to be pest control once they are bigger. It's autumn in New Zealand and we are out in the country so we are currently overrun with little field mice looking for food and shelter. We keep putting bait out and the mice keep eating it. There must be thousands. They just don't have enough natural predators here other than the odd hawk (we might have one a day cruise past and grab the odd mouse). Then there are the locusts and crickets and grasshoppers, and I'm sure there are slugs and snails hiding in the grass. And there are little non-native skinks that are everywhere.

 

[FunnyfarmMidwest]

That's hilarious! It's not about how big you are - it's all about attitude.

Our Muscovies are so very cute. They are finally working out how to eat out of the bowl rather than off my fingers. I just adore them.

I'm going to have to put a lower wattage bulb in and lift their heat lamp up because they sit halfway across the brooder from the light so they must be too hot.

I'm relying on them to be pest control once they are bigger. It's autumn in New Zealand and we are out in the country so we are currently overrun with little field mice looking for food and shelter. We keep putting bait out and the mice keep eating it. There must be thousands. They just don't have enough natural predators here other than the odd hawk (we might have one a day cruise past and grab the odd mouse). Then there are the locusts and crickets and grasshoppers, and I'm sure there are slugs and snails hiding in the grass. And there are little non-native skinks that are everywhere.

The calls definitely have big attitudes, especially Splash! They’ve even tried to chase my 10 pound Pekins on occasion!

I’m so glad the little Muscovies are doing good! I bet your family is thrilled to have sweet new ducklings!

I think the ducks will be great at pest control! One of the main reasons we actually got our guineas was pest control. We have a lot of ticks and snakes around and know they are good at warding them off. Our outside cats mainly control our mouse problem but I’m sure that the poultry get some as well. The main problem I have as of now is hawks, who want to eat the tiny calls. They avoid just about everything else but the calls are bite sized. We have to keep a lid on their pen to protect them.

 

[fawnda]

I hate to be a wet blanket here on your wonderful hatch thread, but it is *technically* illegal to take wild Mallard eggs, even if you were well-intentioned. It's also illegal to keep these wild babies which will turn into adults quickly. In order to have Mallards from the wild, you need a special permit and they have to have one of their hind(?) toes clipped to show that they are ok to have. I know you are incredibly proud and in love with your babies after putting so much effort into them, but they are very much wild ducks, unless I'm missing something here(?). The best thing to do would be to turn them over to a wildlife rehabber in your area so they can raise them with release back into the wild as the end goal. If you're wanting ducks, get domesticated ducks that will not fly away and that are legal for you to keep. Perhaps talk to your local DNR and see if there's a way to obtain a permit for these wild babies after you've already taken them from the wild.

 

[X3Jack930]

We have a 12 year old daughter (who loves her birds) and a 9 year old son who is also crazy about animals.

Sounds like you have some lucky duckies there - their house is sure to be spectacular. Yes, it's much easier to clean out something you can walk into than something you have to crawl and reach into. It's worth the extra materials and effort for sure!

I'm in New Zealand and once our babies are big enough there's nothing that can hurt them (unless they get out on the road so we will have to clip their wings). I might start them in my shed, but I'm picking they will find their own places to roost and nest in the trees. We have 11.6 acres with a pond and farms all around us.

I'm sorry about your last egg but sometimes they just don't grow properly. At least you tried and seeing as the others all hatched out happy and healthy it's most likely there was something wrong with her.

Our ducklings are in the lounge but our little house is very open plan so they have people going past them all the time (stopping to talk to them and tell them how cute they are).

I can't wait to see how they turn out too. I'll keep you posted, and I want to see your babies growing up too. Mallards are gorgeous and very sweet looking birds.

Aww- that’s so sweet! I bet they love playing with the baby ducks!!

Yes, I want it to look cute because we’re in a really nice development. If we had a large multiple acre lot like you, I’d make it a little more rustic! Wow, New Zealand!! That’s awesome! I bet it’s gorgeous there! I’m from the US- Pennsylvania to be exact! Where I’m at in PA a lot of our developments were farms, just like the one I live in now! My area is developed but not cramped “city living”. There are still many farms around. That’s amazing how many acres you have! “YOU’RE A LUCKY DUCK”

Thank you for your kind words regarding duck #10! I buried her under her mama’s nest in my garden to honor the both of them.

I love open plan houses! Yes, like I said before- I have mine in the kitchen, so everyone walks by and talks to them too! They’re so cute- they’ll be completely quiet and when I sit next to the brooder and go, “peep, peep, peep, peep” and continue asking what they’re up to, how they’re doing, etc. they run to the side of the brooder where I am, start cocking their heads and “talking” to me! OMGosh, but they are sooooo MESSY!!! Disastrous is more like it Jeez- within seconds of me cleaning their brooder it is poo city, “swampy” and good flinging all over again!!! I clean that thing like every 2-3 hours and it looks like I left it all day already, it’s crazy! They’re just little poo machines - They’re so lucky their just too adorable because at this point that’s all they have going for themselves!!! LOL!!!

Definitely keep me posted and I’ll keep you posted! I’ll post some more pictures for you tomorrow!! Feel free to send some my way as well!

 

[X3Jack930]

The calls definitely have big attitudes, especially Splash! They’ve even tried to chase my 10 pound Pekins on occasion!

I’m so glad the little Muscovies are doing good! I bet your family is thrilled to have sweet new ducklings!

I think the ducks will be great at pest control! One of the main reasons we actually got our guineas was pest control. We have a lot of ticks and snakes around and know they are good at warding them off. Our outside cats mainly control our mouse problem but I’m sure that the poultry get some as well. The main problem I have as of now is hawks, who want to eat the tiny calls. They avoid just about everything else but the calls are bite sized. We have to keep a lid on their pen to protect them.

Aww!! I love the name! Ruling the kingdom!!! Yes! Everyone is very happy! To the point where I did all the work, research, incubating, turning, misting, etc., I’m out cutting the lawn- for 3 weeks waiting for these little babies to hatch- i get a call- “the duck is hatching (the first one of them all)”. I run inside to see that someone sent a mass text saying, “I’m a daddy! Everyone meet TACO!” Wait, wait, wait!!!! Taco? No, no, no!! That was my safety hole egg, the one I had most attachment too, I did all the work and I’m naming the first hatched duckling thank you very much!!!! little booger!!! So again- yes super happy to have ducklings, lol!

Oh no, keep those mean hawks away!! I just read an article about call ducks- why they are named call ducks and what they were used for in the early 19th century!!! Lol, so I inherited my duckling eggs when their mother was abducted by a fox, but after I did some research, I realized they are phenomenal at getting rid of all the weeds in the yard!! Jackpot!!! Not to mention the grubs we have and other pests they will eat!!! So I’m super happy about that! I’m worried about the fox and raccoons around here- so I have to build their duck house WISELY!

 

[TwoCrows]

It is against federal law to harbor any of our native wild birds here in the US. See this sticky please.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/migratory-bird-treaty-act.1369922/