The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[Miss Lydia]

3 baby ducklings

7 baby ducklings
Will check again in the morning. How do you know when and if their done?

Aww how sweet they look, Congrats!! I'd give her a few more days put food and water close by. but don't leave it there over night it it's all outside because you don't want to draw preds even rats will take ducklings. The ducklings will need to drink tomorrow but mom will show them where it all is. They may even start nibbling on some feed. Very exciting for you.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

X2
How cute they are! And right on schedule.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

O my goodness, 16!!! We put the igloo house in and she came out and took the babies to it. We got rid of the smaller one and there was 3 eggs still in there. No signs of life though in those, still can't believe her 1st time there would be so many. Looks like a beautiful day for her and her lil ones. Everyone enjoy!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

O my goodness, 16!!! We put the igloo house in and she came out and took the babies to it. We got rid of the smaller one and there was 3 eggs still in there. No signs of life though in those, still can't believe her 1st time there would be so many. Looks like a beautiful day for her and her lil ones. Everyone enjoy!!!

That is so precious... Congrats again and give mama a hand clap boy is she going to need it. lol watch those babies closely to make sure mom is protective even blue jays, crows will take ducklings when tiny, and has she taken them all inside the igloo make sure they can all get in and out so no one will get left behind. They all look great I know your thrilled to pieces.

 

[ringaring]

I have 2 questions: It's been a week since the 1st duckling hatched - now up to 5 and 11 more eggs to go (had 2 casualties). Granted they were laid over several days but is it common for them to hatch so slowly? I thought eggs in a nest would synchronize a bit. The girls are still sitting on their joint nest as the ducklings crawl all over them. At what point should I pull the rest of the eggs? It doesn't seem like it would be safe to have newly hatched ducklings in the same nest as ones that are several days old. The 2 sitting ducks are sharing mothering duties for now - no more egg stealing or territory issues. I thought the one who laid the earlier eggs would take the 1st ducklings to the other side of the nursery and leave the rest of the eggs for the other to hatch but they have other plans evidently. Glad to say Mother Buttless and kids are in with the rest of the flock and everyone is accepting of them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 2 questions: It's been a week since the 1st duckling hatched - now up to 5 and 11 more eggs to go (had 2 casualties). Granted they were laid over several days but is it common for them to hatch so slowly? I thought eggs in a nest would synchronize a bit. The girls are still sitting on their joint nest as the ducklings crawl all over them. At what point should I pull the rest of the eggs? It doesn't seem like it would be safe to have newly hatched ducklings in the same nest as ones that are several days old. The 2 sitting ducks are sharing mothering duties for now - no more egg stealing or territory issues. I thought the one who laid the earlier eggs would take the 1st ducklings to the other side of the nursery and leave the rest of the eggs for the other to hatch but they have other plans evidently. Glad to say Mother Buttless and kids are in with the rest of the flock and everyone is accepting of them.

Ist ducklings seem to missing out on alot, might want to think of taking first broody and ducklings and separating them from second mama leaving her with eggs that haven't hatched or taking all egg that haven't hatched and candling them then if there isn't anything going on they can get on with caring and teaching their ducklings.

 

[one old chick]

It is very cute but not always the best since one may not like it when the ducklings start to hatch and babies get trampled to death when 2 mamas are fighting over parental rights. You could give the other duck some eggs in a separate area and see if she'll take to them, if they come from the nest she is on now she may accept them. worth a try

I went in to do what you said and found an egg with a big hole in it by the pen door. it was empty so I checked the other eggs and there are only two. there were 5 to begin with four of which were fertile. there is no sign of the other two missing eggs. no shells nothing. I don't know what happened

I guess there really isn't much I can do except wait and see what happens to the other three eggs. I don't know if the drake took them and ate them or if she ate them. I am not sure what happened. there is plenty of food and water. would you have any guesses? the two left are warm to the touch. I didn't take them out because I didn't want to cause a problem.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

That is so precious... Congrats again and give mama a hand clap boy is she going to need it. lol watch those babies closely to make sure mom is protective even blue jays, crows will take ducklings when tiny, and has she taken them all inside the igloo make sure they can all get in and out so no one will get left behind. They all look great I know your thrilled to pieces.

O mom is very protective. If you get anywhere near the pen, she starts huddling them. We have bird netting across the top of the whole pen, no air predators can get to them. Plus 3 diff kinds of fences around mama and baby, can't be to safe. lol In the one pic, we built a real wide ladder slope thing for them to walk up and get into igloo. They jumped right up there and followed mama. They are awful good jumpers for only 1-2 days old. There were 3 eggs left in the nest, I candled them and one was see thru and the other 2 I couldn't get much lite thru, they were completely dark, but no movement that i could detect. I have them in a basket in the garage watching just in case, but I think she's done.

 

[Miss Lydia]

O mom is very protective. If you get anywhere near the pen, she starts huddling them. We have bird netting across the top of the whole pen, no air predators can get to them. Plus 3 diff kinds of fences around mama and baby, can't be to safe. lol In the one pic, we built a real wide ladder slope thing for them to walk up and get into igloo. They jumped right up there and followed mama. They are awful good jumpers for only 1-2 days old. There were 3 eggs left in the nest, I candled them and one was see thru and the other 2 I couldn't get much lite thru, they were completely dark, but no movement that i could detect. I have them in a basket in the garage watching just in case, but I think she's done.

You've got it all covered then literally. lol. Look forward to more pics when you get time and enjoy them it's such a pleasure watching mama and babies.I bet they just about fill the igloo up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I went in to do what you said and found an egg with a big hole in it by the pen door. it was empty so I checked the other eggs and there are only two. there were 5 to begin with four of which were fertile. there is no sign of the other two missing eggs. no shells nothing. I don't know what happened

I guess there really isn't much I can do except wait and see what happens to the other three eggs. I don't know if the drake took them and ate them or if she ate them. I am not sure what happened. there is plenty of food and water. would you have any guesses? the two left are warm to the touch. I didn't take them out because I didn't want to cause a problem.

Could have been the drake or one of the ducks or maybe even a small pred.?Just hard to know. I have never seen one of my drakes eat an egg though but I caught one of my broody's yesterday carrying another ducks egg outside and eating it. First time to see that too. I hope the last 2 make it to hatch. Do you have blk snakes? They'll eat the ducks eggs.