Support Group for Abused Duck Keepers

[Luv Ducks]

May flood the page

Oh Soooooo Cute!!!!

 

[Maddcatter]

So... Broody chicken #1 is happy with her 3 chicks (ducklings) though confused by how they eat...
Broody chicken #2 attacked broody #1 earlier today... Probably because #2 hasn't had any eggs hatch yet (she's got 2 with that will probably hatch today)
... So broody #1 left her nest with a duckling that had pipped last night, but hadn't hatched yet. Egg was cold when I found it, but chick was peeping... Membrane was shrink wrapping, so duckling got a bit of Neosporin, and got shoved under broody #2 to warm back up.
... Checked back 10 minutes later, and the duckling was outside the nesting box, with no egg, and cold... But still peeping. Duckling got to hang out under the heat lamp in my new, ghetto-rigged incubator. Seems to be doing well now... But I am now worried I should not leave eggs under broody #2 at all.
Broody#1 is done brooding. The 2 chickens are in the same brooder, but separated. The ducklings all the fine.
Maybe my chicken is crazy, or maybe chickens brooding on ducklings only works sometimes. Any ideas?

Aforementioned duckling that got kicked out of broody #2's nest.

 

[ruthhope]

Thanks for the update. I was wondering how he was doing. Prayers for him to get better soon. Hopefully he will like the sardines. Our Walmart sells worms for fishing. I don't know if you have Walmart or if they would see them there also.

So Ping, my little fluffy crested pekin drake, is now able to walk again. But I only found out after a BIG SCARE.

He has been lying around doing very little all day. I have been going out trying to get him to eat more. I went out with sardines and put some in his wading pool pocket where I usually give the ducks peas. I put some in his ducky soup. I offered some from my hand but he only licked and didn't eat. Then the skies darkened, and we had a clap of thunder at 5.45pm. So I prepared his tote with a puppy pad, and his oral rehydration salts and food bowls, for him to come into the rear porch. When I picked him up, he had been lying in poop, so I put him in the wading pool to clean himself up. Then I went into the house to give my puppy some attention. Forty-five minutes later, I went back, and Ping had gone. He was literally nowhere. I searched all over, under the trees under the brambles, in the long grass round the 'natural' area near the shed. My arms are torn and scratched, and I have grass cuts on my hands. I thought I could hear him answering my call near the shed. I looked over the fence behind the shed even though he couldn't get there, looked in the narrow gap down the side of the shed by the fence. I went round to my neighbor's and walked the full length if their side of the fence. I thought I heard him answering me several times, but there was no sign of him, and I convinced myself I was hearing phantom calls because I so wanted to hear him call. I was devastated. I checked round everywhere again, had a weep, then went down to the shed to get everything ready for the muscovy for the night. My husband called and I sat down on a bucket by the shed door and started blubbering that PingyWingy had gone. Husband couldn't understand me because I was blubbering. So I shouted PingyWingy has gone. Then I heard him: unmistakable Ping answered my call loud and clear from the side of the shed by the fence. He was sitting right at the back corner and wouldn't get up and come to me, so I had to climb over the potting table by the shed and shimmy down the little gap, and I got him. He must have been behind the shed where I couldn't see him and couldn't get to, when I had heard him before. I carried him moving backwards to the front of the shed and then dropped him over the potting table while I climbed over the potting table. That is when he stood up, shook himself, and walked into the shed -- without using his wings for support.

I let him go into his dog crate for the night as that is clearly where he wanted to be, and then finished off getting all four boys fed and watered, and tucked up safely for the night.

I am so relieved I found him and so happy that he can now walk so all the tender loving care and Niacin is working. That boy gave me a real fright!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

So Ping, my little fluffy crested pekin drake, is now able to walk again. But I only found out after a BIG SCARE.

He has been lying around doing very little all day. I have been going out trying to get him to eat more. I went out with sardines and put some in his wading pool pocket where I usually give the ducks peas. I put some in his ducky soup. I offered some from my hand but he only licked and didn't eat. Then the skies darkened, and we had a clap of thunder at 5.45pm. So I prepared his tote with a puppy pad, and his oral rehydration salts and food bowls, for him to come into the rear porch. When I picked him up, he had been lying in poop, so I put him in the wading pool to clean himself up. Then I went into the house to give my puppy some attention. Forty-five minutes later, I went back, and Ping had gone. He was literally nowhere. I searched all over, under the trees under the brambles, in the long grass round the 'natural' area near the shed. My arms are torn and scratched, and I have grass cuts on my hands. I thought I could hear him answering my call near the shed. I looked over the fence behind the shed even though he couldn't get there, looked in the narrow gap down the side of the shed by the fence. I went round to my neighbor's and walked the full length if their side of the fence. I thought I heard him answering me several times, but there was no sign of him, and I convinced myself I was hearing phantom calls because I so wanted to hear him call. I was devastated. I checked round everywhere again, had a weep, then went down to the shed to get everything ready for the muscovy for the night. My husband called and I sat down on a bucket by the shed door and started blubbering that PingyWingy had gone. Husband couldn't understand me because I was blubbering. So I shouted PingyWingy has gone. Then I heard him: unmistakable Ping answered my call loud and clear from the side of the shed by the fence. He was sitting right at the back corner and wouldn't get up and come to me, so I had to climb over the potting table by the shed and shimmy down the little gap, and I got him. He must have been behind the shed where I couldn't see him and couldn't get to, when I had heard him before. I carried him moving backwards to the front of the shed and then dropped him over the potting table while I climbed over the potting table. That is when he stood up, shook himself, and walked into the shed -- without using his wings for support.
View attachment 3544907
I let him go into his dog crate for the night as that is clearly where he wanted to be, and then finished off getting all four boys fed and watered, and tucked up safely for the night.

I am so relieved I found him and so happy that he can now walk so all the tender loving care and Niacin is working. That boy gave me a real fright!

Such a scary but rewarding story
Glad he is getting better
Hope he starts eating better now too

 

[Luv Ducks]

So happy that you found Ping. I know how hard it is when they are lost. When my Mallard flew out of the pen and it was time to go to Church and I had given up looking for her I felt horrible also. Then after coming home from Church the neighbor at the end of the street came walking up carrying her. She was just fine, just wanted to visit another neighbor's flock and try to beat up their dog. She got a good wing clipping and has never tried that one again.

 

[Luv Ducks]

So... Broody chicken #1 is happy with her 3 chicks (ducklings) though confused by how they eat...
Broody chicken #2 attacked broody #1 earlier today... Probably because #2 hasn't had any eggs hatch yet (she's got 2 with that will probably hatch today)
... So broody #1 left her nest with a duckling that had pipped last night, but hadn't hatched yet. Egg was cold when I found it, but chick was peeping... Membrane was shrink wrapping, so duckling got a bit of Neosporin, and got shoved under broody #2 to warm back up.
... Checked back 10 minutes later, and the duckling was outside the nesting box, with no egg, and cold... But still peeping. Duckling got to hang out under the heat lamp in my new, ghetto-rigged incubator. Seems to be doing well now... But I am now worried I should not leave eggs under broody #2 at all.
Broody#1 is done brooding. The 2 chickens are in the same brooder, but separated. The ducklings all the fine.
Maybe my chicken is crazy, or maybe chickens brooding on ducklings only works sometimes. Any ideas?
View attachment 3544679

Aforementioned duckling that got kicked out of broody #2's nest.

I would be tempted to raise it myself with a mirror and a stuffed animal if you end up with no other ducklings. If Momma hen is not keeping it warm or keeping half an eye on it at least then she should not be allowed to raise it. My ducklings though were out running around without being under their Momma Duck at 2 days old and it was only in the 50's here at the time. I was amazed that in the house they are kept at 90 degree heat and with Momma Duck they can withstand cold temperatures and survive just fine. She even let them dip into the small water bowls and not worry and now they are all feathered out and doing great. Good luck with your decision.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I learned the crate is great for a nesting box but once mom bring babies out to eat and drink the babies can miss the opening and find themselves beside and behind the crate
Mom is calling and they can’t find her
I took the crate out and built a shorter table where all sides are open but has a roof
So far nobody has got lost since
Thank you @Miss Lydia for giving me the heads up to watch for it as it happened a few times but I was able to get them back to mom with no issues
Pics to show the 4 babies beside the crate
They ended up behind it
The new shelter
She also has fencing around her area so the other ducks can see but not touch her little ones

 

[Jenbirdee]

Have y’all seen this yet?

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Good morning
Well today mom gave me a scare
I was filling waters abc I could hear the broody quacks
Worried I ran over to the coop as I hadn’t let ducks out yet Barney got the door open and ducks came running out
I step in and realize moms not on her side she was the one bursting through the door first
No idea how long she was out of her area
Babies thankfully are fine
Mom came back and I left her door open so she could bring them out
She did just to the covered area as they are to tiny for me to trust in the big yard yet
Stella my 10 week old goose was trying to go after the babies
Anyone know why she would be like this?
I stood guard and kept her back

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Well my day isn’t over yet with my broody mom getting cabin fever
I have a drake ( thankfully my most chill one ) in the duck house with bumble foot
It’s raining out and I don’t want his foot wet with the wrap on
Mom and babies were in their area
She wanted out so she have pushed her gate open and brought the babies out to the bigger area
I walked in to find her and babies hanging with captain jack
I have her back in her area and put a brick there to hold the gate closed
I just don’t want the little ones eating the adult feed yet
Hopefully it’s nice out tomorrow so mom can go outside for a bit and break this cabin fever