kerryb90
Songster
Hello! I recently had exactly one duckling hatch, shortly followed by several chicks. Since they're all still very small, I figured it would be fine to brood them together until my next batch of ducklings hatch this weekend. I know ducklings can't be alone, so I was hoping that this ducky would take to the chicks like they were its own flock.
So far, things have been fine - until tonight when I turned out the lights (I use brooder plates for heat) and Little One (my duckling, ironically a pekin mix) started screaming and would. not. stop.
I've handled this duck quite a bit from hatch, so I'm wondering if they have imprinted on me, but I've seen no significant signs of that till Little One fell asleep on my arm just now (after screaming in the brooder with the chicks for a while and keeping me up). The duckling has slept just fine without me for almost a week now! I don't know what changed. Maybe Little One is lonely without other ducks around? Or has this duck imprinted on me? What do you all think?
So far, things have been fine - until tonight when I turned out the lights (I use brooder plates for heat) and Little One (my duckling, ironically a pekin mix) started screaming and would. not. stop.
I've handled this duck quite a bit from hatch, so I'm wondering if they have imprinted on me, but I've seen no significant signs of that till Little One fell asleep on my arm just now (after screaming in the brooder with the chicks for a while and keeping me up). The duckling has slept just fine without me for almost a week now! I don't know what changed. Maybe Little One is lonely without other ducks around? Or has this duck imprinted on me? What do you all think?