The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[121zues]

hello Miss Lydia, I have an update not only was Boomer two weeks old yesterday but we had 4 babies all hatch out. They are so cute. The mother duck is doing the same as the other mother did, she gets off to go outside and bathe. She just popped off the the babies and went out that's how I knew they had hatched. In the morning there were 4 eggs by dinner time there were three babies and the fourth had pipped as I was so surprised when she got off the nest that it was full of babies. While she was out bathing and eating with the others Boomer's mom came in and sat on the nest until the other mom came in. I am so amazed at these two mother ducks. Little Boomer goes over and lays on the nest with the both mothers and I saw Boomer putting some hay in it as if caring for the babies (I am hoping Boomer is a girl). We have the Drake completely locked out now as my nerves can't handle it. He watches from next door. Both mother's still go out and bathe and Boomer will still go over to the window and wait for his mom. We are going to divide the outside pen to keep the drake on one side and the rest on the other. Here is a pic of my new little ducklings One of them which I have named PI is so colorful and beautiful. Thank you for your help

oh my gosh so sweet

 

[121zues]

Good deal, I think you will get a MUCH better chance of having fertiled eggs now.  WOO HOOO...

Now the question is she safe? She's in our wood she'd 25 feet from the house up under those boards we have woven wire fence around the yard topped with electric strands. She's pretty well hidden we have 2 good size dogs that are inside at night but will raise a pretty good ruckus if anything is outside. I don't want to leave her there if she's not safe!

 

[holm25]

Yay congrats!

Candled our girls eggs and all alive and kicking.. But one of her eggs went missing and i found a membrane on the ground. I am almost positive one of our drakes is eating all the eggs the girls lay.

One of our drakes ate eggs it would not suprised if one of yours does to it seems like the lower ranked drakes does all the egg eating .

 

[holm25]

oh my gosh so sweet

X2

 

[luvmypets]

One of our drakes ate eggs it would not suprised if one of yours does to it seems like the lower ranked drakes does all the egg eating .

We havent had any eggs layed on the ground the only ones tht arent eaten r in the nest boxes. We havent had eggs for 5 days.

 

[holm25]

We havent had any eggs layed on the ground the only ones tht arent eaten r in the nest boxes. We havent had eggs for 5 days.

Huh weird!!

 

[luvmypets]

Huh weird!!

Ik i dont get why.. At least they have only gotten 1 of our broodies 6 eggs.

 

[holm25]

Ik i dont get why.. At least they have only gotten 1 of our broodies 6 eggs.

Yeah that's good!!

 

[Lacrystol]

Now the question is she safe? She's in our wood she'd 25 feet from the house up under those boards we have woven wire fence around the yard topped with electric strands. She's pretty well hidden we have 2 good size dogs that are inside at night but will raise a pretty good ruckus if anything is outside. I don't want to leave her there if she's not safe!

I had one of my girls do the same thing and came home with seven babies, as long as she is hidden really good i think she'll be OK, they usually bury there eggs and run for cover if theres any danger.

 

[one old chick]

Oh my gosh they are adorable.. Congratulations. Good for you keeping moms and ducklings separated this gives babies a chance to get strength and stamina for the day they will all be together. I hope Boomer is a girl too. Not wanting to worry you but with boomer being older keep and eye out for the next week that she doesn't pick on the young ones, sometimes it does happen. Keep the updates and pics coming.

Hello again, Miss Lydia I am sending a couple of pics for you, they are of Boomer. In one pic he/she is laying next to the drake on the other side of the panel. He/She is quite the politician haha he/she has slept next to him for the last couple of nights while the two mom ducks sleep on the nest with the little ones. I am hopeful eventually he will accept Boomer into the flock. Remember I told you Boomer sits by the window watching his mother swim? Well, I was worried about the new babies when the ducks went out to swim and low and behold I worried for nothing because Boomer led them all to the window and they all sat there and watched the moms swim. It was the most amazing thing I think I've ever seen. The babies follow little Boomer around as if he/she is the mom and Boomer is so good to them. I think Boomer is a duck because of how natural he/she is with the babies. We just love Boomer and couldn't have asked for a better first duckling. I think the moms are happy too because Boomer is a really good babysitter LOL.