Sitting duck questions

[CayugaJana]

There are 9 more eggs on the nest! I don’t know if they’ll all hatch. Mama’s sitting on there! How long should I let her sit on unhatched ones?

The babies climb all over her and under her wings! So sweet!

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[Miss Lydia]

 

[CayugaJana]

Any more hatch??

 

[mkcragg]

I have updates and questions again. We seem to have a missing duckling. Possibly two.

We had to go out of town to visit my parents and Husband’s mom is taking care of our critters. We left Thursday afternoon and will come home tomorrow (Saturday). MIL called today and was asking questions about what food for what animal so I asked for an update on the babies. Hoping to hear that more had hatched, I asked how many were in the brooder. 9, she tells me. Hmm. We left yesterday and there were 10, with 4 eggs left, one of which was in the process of hatching. She counted several times. 9. And three eggs. There is NO. WAY. these babies could have escaped. No way they were hiding under the food bowls. No way something got to them. Could they have burrowed into the hay? What has happened??? I’m so anxious to get home.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hard to say until you get home and look around. Keep us updated

 

[WVduckchick]

Looks like quite a bit of straw bedding. Is it possible that a baby got smooshed down into the bedding? Momma could easily have eaten the empty shells, but i don't think she would have eaten a baby. I've had young ones die and get pretty crushed into the bedding. I hope she just mis-counted, or could you have mis-counted before you left? And do other ducks have access to them, or are momma and the babies separated?
Praying for the best.

 

[mkcragg]

We just got home and checked on everybody. 9 ducks, three eggs, and Mama had broken up the nest. I took the eggs out and will candle in a bit. She and the babies are in a big brooder box in the garage, separate from the other ducks. I have no idea what happened to the 10th baby/11th hatching but there are no bodies I can see in there. She was getting stressed so I didn’t want to dig around in the bedding. Could she have eaten them??? I googled it and saw that it happens sometimes.

The 9 are running around, eating, hopping in the water, and looking really good. She seems like maybe she doesn’t really know what to do with them now. Not afraid really, but sort of unaware of them? Like she stepped on several just while I was in there refilling food and water. She was calm at that point, just standing on a baby then moving and standing on another. Husband wonders if we should send her back to be with the rest of the flock but I hate to separate her now. Would she hurt them? Thank you all for your help and encouragement! I don’t feel so worried knowing y’all are around and so knowledgeable!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep an eye on her and the ducklings not all first time mamas know what to do. I have seen mine step on their ducklings and they were okay so hopefully they are made to take it. As for the 2 missing she may have eaten them they will eat the egg shells. I'd say the 3 eggs probably aren't going to hatch. Let us know what you see.

 

[mkcragg]

We’ve lost two more this week, the smallest one I was calling Rowdy was dead when I came in to check on them this morning. He has been walking a little weird. Off balance and fell down a few times yesterday. I feel like it’s my fault he died and I’ve been crying since I found him. We took Mama back outside the other day after the third one died by the water bowl. We’ve had the babies inside in a box in the guest bathtub since then. It was bitterly cold this week so we moved them inside once we took away their primary source of heat. We’ve had a light on them inside. Down to 7 ducklings and I’m praying they all make it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so sorry. Are they eating and drinking good? Sure hope the rest will make it. If you have any poultry Nutri Drench I'd put some into their water daily for a while.

If your having extreme cold like most of us I think you made the best decision bring them inside.