Thank you, thank you!!

[Littlesplashers]

I just want to thank you all so much! I stumbled onto your website looking for help about helping out my soon to hatch Black Swedish ducklings. The mama duck hatched one and then proceeded to attack the other eggs. At first ,although alarmed, I thought maybe she was trying to help them out. But all to quickly it became apparent that she was out to do harm. The first duckling came 3 days before the others- yesterday when I popped in to check on the mom and baby I noticed the others had popped their little holes and I could hear them peeping. They seemed to be ok. By midmorning when i checked again she was ripping apart one egg and eating it (very bloody), one other had most of the shell removed leaving the baby only covered by the white membrane, and the other was ok still only a little peep hole. I removed the two worst eggs immeadately and started looking for info. After a lot of worry and fear of mistakes I helped the two worst out of their partially eaten shells and hoped for the best. The third hatched on his own although as soon as he was out of the shell the mama duck tried to kill him/her. I am happy to report that all three are doing well so far. The bloody one was the scariest to deal with but is quite robust and a wee beasty. The one with the outer shell eaten 90% away was touch and go but has finally started hopping around with the others. And the final little one is the biggest of the bunch and has no outward signs of trama. I know you all probably hear stories like this a lot but nothing like this has ever happened with my ducks. I have had ducks for 16 years with no surprises. They are my joy. So here is the question...the mama seems to care and like the one baby. Its happy, healthy, eating, drinking and nesting with her. But i am concerned- do i leave it with her or move it over with the others after they are well enough? Provided that they make it (please let them make it!). I have never taken babies from a mama but this seems like it might a case for that.

 

[Amiga]

Take them, I would leave the one with mom for a bit, then do a slow reintroduction once the wee ones have some size.

We just ought not take anything for granted, it seems. Wow. What a story! And what a duckling hero you are!!

Hoping some experienced hatchers weigh in here soon.

 

[Marwan]

A MASSIVE APPLAUD TO YOU. what you did is truely excellent. youve helped babies who otherwise may have died just as their lives were to begin. I live in the UK and i have 2 beautiful rouen ducks which are almost a year old (1 year old on July 27th). i have some videos online of them if anyone is interested. there are alot of videos of pet ducks but im certian i have something many havent seen. ive got some clips of them on the bus and train. please take a look and leave a comment ENJOY

 

[Gone Quackers]

Wow amazing story!! My advice to you would be take the weakest one out for awhile and take care of it yourself until he is feeling better and then sneak it back under mom when she is sleeping one night (we have done this with weak chicks before and it has worked great--not sure about ducks though)

Hopefully someone else chimes in here!

 

[Marwan]

Yes if the duckling is back to normal health then try and mix him into the rest when shes sleeping. then keep an eye on it. see what she does. obviously is she begins rejecting it it would seem your gonna have to me mummy to it for now if she takes it in then all is good shes probably a first time mother and not too sure what to do

 

[Littlesplashers]

Thanks for all the support The mama left the older one on its own today so now all the babies are together. I guess she just isn't ready to be a mom. If only there was a way to know this... I'm going to try and attach a picture of the babies later when they wake up. The littlest was running around like crazy earlier. I am so happy they have made it this far.

 

[Littlesplashers]

 

[Littlesplashers]

This is one of the eggs I scooped away from the mama. It was also the one in the best condition.