Well, mama (Alice) and I get along pretty well. Before the broodyness, she would let me catch her, pet her and give her treats (like most of my ducks). My ducks get handled almost every day.
Yesterday, while the last one was hatching I opened the top of the pen and gave her a few big juicy lively worms. She ate them from my hand greedily. I gave her some water and scratch grains (they don't like eating laying pellets much). Then I proceeded to play with the ducklings while she watched. Showed the ducklings where the water and food was and even (unsuccessfully) tried vent sexing one. When the peeping started in, Alice got a little huffy but never got mean.
Today I checked on them to see if any of the other ducks had gotten in and killed any ducklings (nope). I also picked up Alice and put her in the pool for 5 min and let her have a much needed bath while I watched over the ducklings. She could see the ducklings from the pool and did not seem to mind me playing with them much. When she was finished I put her back with the ducklings and she went back to guard duty.. lol..
Somehow I don't think it will be this way with mama #2. She has never liked to be handled, so I think I might have a fight on my hands.. lol....
I tried the whole craigslist ad thing and there are so many people around here selling that way that I have had no replies. However, on a brighter note, the local seed & Feed buys ducklings for $2ea.. A few ducklings = food for the flock for a couple weeks.
If you think I am hatching a lot of ducklings, I have at least double that number of guinea eggs waiting on the incubator.. lol..
