Hi all!
If you followed my post a few weeks ago you’ll know I has to little ducklings to a Muscovy mumma!
Today now they’re 11 days old I decided to move them to a much bigger and lighter home. A large run with an attached ramp & Hutch for warmth. It is being kept in our stable for safely reasons as we have a different predators around due to spring time. It allows natural light and is much bigger for mumma duck to flap her wings.
Yesterday she seemed ok in there but she was pushing at the wire walls trying to get out a lot.
Last night I brought in her buddy’s Greg & Peg the geese who she was brought up with since she was a baby. They also slept in the stable but in a different run. I had a hatch of 6 last year incubated but sadly this week a mink attacked 3 of them in their house overnight hence why Greg and peg are sleeping in the stable until we secure the outside from mink. (And fox Cubs
)
This morning after what I could gather was a peaceful night, Greg the goose was obsessed with the mumma duck & baby’s to the point that I had to carry him out of the stable to his grass for the day. He wasn’t hissing at them but he would not leave them, it was bazar! He was trying everything he could to get back there and when I allowed it to see what he did he just stood there looking at them. And mumma was trying to get at out the cage again.
I allowed mumma duck to come out to see Greg as obviously they’re buddies and mumma duck just gave him the occasional nip— not like an I’m gonna attack you nip… I have actually have no idea what she was doing.
Anyway. I’m concerned that I’m stressing out both parties…. This was their first night bunked together and I thought it was going well until this morning. Mumma duck is so desperate to leave her safe house but it’s just not an option until the ducklings are at least another few weeks old. It’s like sending them out to their certain death around here. Crows everywhere, apparently now mink.. foxes… magpies… even a bloody Herron!
I also thought maybe Greg and peg being in the stable at night (separate houses) would almost provide an extra protection from rats as they’ll see off anything.
Anyway- do you think I’m stressing out both parties?? Is it possible that mumma duck could turn on her ducklings? Or so you think they’ll get use to it? And mumma duck is just getting use to her new home?
If you followed my post a few weeks ago you’ll know I has to little ducklings to a Muscovy mumma!
Today now they’re 11 days old I decided to move them to a much bigger and lighter home. A large run with an attached ramp & Hutch for warmth. It is being kept in our stable for safely reasons as we have a different predators around due to spring time. It allows natural light and is much bigger for mumma duck to flap her wings.
Yesterday she seemed ok in there but she was pushing at the wire walls trying to get out a lot.
Last night I brought in her buddy’s Greg & Peg the geese who she was brought up with since she was a baby. They also slept in the stable but in a different run. I had a hatch of 6 last year incubated but sadly this week a mink attacked 3 of them in their house overnight hence why Greg and peg are sleeping in the stable until we secure the outside from mink. (And fox Cubs
)This morning after what I could gather was a peaceful night, Greg the goose was obsessed with the mumma duck & baby’s to the point that I had to carry him out of the stable to his grass for the day. He wasn’t hissing at them but he would not leave them, it was bazar! He was trying everything he could to get back there and when I allowed it to see what he did he just stood there looking at them. And mumma was trying to get at out the cage again.
I allowed mumma duck to come out to see Greg as obviously they’re buddies and mumma duck just gave him the occasional nip— not like an I’m gonna attack you nip… I have actually have no idea what she was doing.
Anyway. I’m concerned that I’m stressing out both parties…. This was their first night bunked together and I thought it was going well until this morning. Mumma duck is so desperate to leave her safe house but it’s just not an option until the ducklings are at least another few weeks old. It’s like sending them out to their certain death around here. Crows everywhere, apparently now mink.. foxes… magpies… even a bloody Herron!
I also thought maybe Greg and peg being in the stable at night (separate houses) would almost provide an extra protection from rats as they’ll see off anything.
Anyway- do you think I’m stressing out both parties?? Is it possible that mumma duck could turn on her ducklings? Or so you think they’ll get use to it? And mumma duck is just getting use to her new home?
so in a strange way maybe they are pining for their lost partners…..
