Sitting Indian Runner

[jazzie5]

I apologise in advance but wasnt sure where to post this - please delete if in the wrong thread.

Hi,
I have had one of my Indian Runners sitting on eggs for about 20 days now. She pops out 1-3 times a day for food and water but she is being very determined! This is my first time so I am keen to be sure I am doing the right things. I have 6 Runners, two are drakes. They are all pets in my back garden. Between them they have two large beds/houses and a run. For lighter months, a large grassed run area for the day time. They have lots of paddle water and seperate drinking water etc but I dont have a shed or anything as extra space.

My questions are these:

Do I HAVE to bring the eggs in now - British Summer and all that, and incubate them to finish them off? Wouldnt that upset her?

Do I wait until the eggs are hatched, if they do, and then bring the ducklings in? Im worried about whether they wil be safe from the other ducks and whether they would be warm enough.

Do I keep her separate from now on? She normally sleeps with her brother, who she is very close to (he never 'services' her) and the other 4 (3 ducks and 1 drake) sleep together.

Do I keep her in her bed and cage area (quite small) to ensure she is safe or will she worry about getting to the others, or vice versa?

If I do bring the ducklings in do I have to bring Mum too? If so, what should I keep her in?

Thanks all.

Jazzie

 

[Miss Lydia]

I apologise in advance but wasnt sure where to post this - please delete if in the wrong thread.

Hi,
I have had one of my Indian Runners sitting on eggs for about 20 days now. She pops out 1-3 times a day for food and water but she is being very determined! This is my first time so I am keen to be sure I am doing the right things. I have 6 Runners, two are drakes. They are all pets in my back garden. Between them they have two large beds/houses and a run. For lighter months, a large grassed run area for the day time. They have lots of paddle water and seperate drinking water etc but I dont have a shed or anything as extra space.

My questions are these:

Do I HAVE to bring the eggs in now - British Summer and all that, and incubate them to finish them off? Wouldnt that upset her?

Do I wait until the eggs are hatched, if they do, and then bring the ducklings in? Im worried about whether they wil be safe from the other ducks and whether they would be warm enough.

Do I keep her separate from now on? She normally sleeps with her brother, who she is very close to (he never 'services' her) and the other 4 (3 ducks and 1 drake) sleep together.

Do I keep her in her bed and cage area (quite small) to ensure she is safe or will she worry about getting to the others, or vice versa?

If I do bring the ducklings in do I have to bring Mum too? If so, what should I keep her in?

Thanks all.

Jazzie

First

and congrats on your first broody and soon to be ducklings, how exciting. Please don't take the ducklings from mom, she has sat on the nest she should raise them, she will keep the duckling very toasty warm after all she is wearing down. When my mama ducks hatched their ducklings they usually kept them inside for about a week, I put feed and water inside with them, I have never had a problem with my drakes killing or hurting a duckling but they don't sleep with the mamas and her babies either. Is there some way you can put something up to give her space for at least a week, where she can still be seen by everyone but noone can get to her babies, not only can and do drakes kill ducklings but ducks can be cruel also. Even a large dog crate set up inside something would give her some time to bond with her babies and give them time to gain strength. If you decide to bring ducklings in please bring mum too, she will be terribly disappointed if she doesn't get to be with them. Pleas be sure to post back how it goes and pics if you can.

 

[sourland]

1) If the other ducks are not bothering her, I would allow her to complete her job.
2) I would allow the mother to care for the ducklings unless the others are evidently messing with them.
3) If possible you might want to keep her separate until the ducklings are fully mobile.
4) How small is 'quite small'?
5) I would do this only as a last resort. It is so much easier to have the mother raise them on her own outside.


Good luck with your hatch.

 

[stonykill]

I apologise in advance but wasnt sure where to post this - please delete if in the wrong thread.

Hi,
I have had one of my Indian Runners sitting on eggs for about 20 days now. She pops out 1-3 times a day for food and water but she is being very determined! This is my first time so I am keen to be sure I am doing the right things. I have 6 Runners, two are drakes. They are all pets in my back garden. Between them they have two large beds/houses and a run. For lighter months, a large grassed run area for the day time. They have lots of paddle water and seperate drinking water etc but I dont have a shed or anything as extra space.

My questions are these:

Do I HAVE to bring the eggs in now - British Summer and all that, and incubate them to finish them off? Wouldnt that upset her?

Do I wait until the eggs are hatched, if they do, and then bring the ducklings in? Im worried about whether they wil be safe from the other ducks and whether they would be warm enough.

Do I keep her separate from now on? She normally sleeps with her brother, who she is very close to (he never 'services' her) and the other 4 (3 ducks and 1 drake) sleep together.

Do I keep her in her bed and cage area (quite small) to ensure she is safe or will she worry about getting to the others, or vice versa?

If I do bring the ducklings in do I have to bring Mum too? If so, what should I keep her in?

Thanks all.

Jazzie

My Runner Penelope did the same. Off the nest at least 3 times a day. Each time she was going to get off the nest she would carefully cover them before leaving the nest.
1) you don't need to do anything. She has it under control
2) I did not separate Penelope and Patrick when Penelope hatched. I just monitored them. Patrick never once did anything that gave me any concern.
3) please don't take her ducklings. I am positive that your duck is better at being a duck than you or I are. I always let my broody's do it all themselves. I never intervein unless it is absolutely needed. Even then I don't like to.
in a week you will have this to look forward to

 

[Mum]

Do I HAVE to bring the eggs in now - British Summer and all that, and incubate them to finish them off? Wouldnt that upset her?

Hi jazzie, I'm also in the SE and the weather is fine for the ducklings when they hatch; mother duck will take care of their needs. Yes, removing them would most definately upset her. Let nature do what it does best

 

[jazzie5]

Hi all - thatnks for the replies.

So, its day 28 (ish - not 100% sure when she started sitting but it is within a day or so) and she has got off!? What do I do now? Why has she suddenly decided today that she wont bother anymore? By that I mean she hasnt just popped out like she did before - she hasnt gone back. Do I candle them now and bring them into incubator or wait a bit longer?

 

[jdywntr]

Some ducks do just give up. If the eggs cool for too long and they are viable, they will die. I would give her a little time and then, provided you want ducklings, bring them in and put them in the incubator.

Good luck and

 

[Mum]

If it were my decision, I'd be bringing them in to the incubator.