The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

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Well here we go again. All my muscovy babies are sold and gone. I was gone a few days and now there appears to be 3 nests in the igloo doghouse. The muscovy is sitting on 1 and my 2 khaki's on the other 2, looking right at each other. I see them quarreling a bit and nudging eggs over to the other nest when 1 gets up. Not sure how this is gonna work, mama muscovy did a great job last time, but that was by herself. My son said he found 1 broken egg and a shell less egg in the run in the morning also. It would be real hard to separate them so I wonder if i should kick khaki's out and give em all to my muscovy and fence her off or just see what nature is going to do.
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My husband was mugged and robbed in South Africa this morning and he is in the hospital there, very badly beaten up and confused. I've been on the phone all day trying to help from far away. Thank goodness he has two very good friends there helping him get good medical care and negotiating the fact that all of is I.D. and passport were stolen. He is finally sleeping (it's the middle of the night there) and hopefully recovering, and I've done all I can, for awhile, from here. A dear friend, who is here with me, asked what I wanted to do now and I said I thought I wanted to wander out and check on the progress of the ducklings. I didn't take the camera, but there are three little beauties out and two more struggling, but nearly free of their shells. It was such a happy sight and one desperately needed by me at this time. The only issue that I have is that the three that are out look like two day old chicks. They are running all over the place (I think it is too warm outside to sit tucked safely away under mom). They are in a large pen (safe from predators), but are wandering further from the nest than I anticipated so I need to cover more of the chicken wire to make sure they don't manage to try to sneak through it and get stuck. I think I can do it quickly without disturbing momma duck too much, and my friend thinks I need a project to take my mind off things. Anyway I will take pictures and post them later, if I can get myself to focus on things other than my current worries.
 
L0rraine said:
My husband was mugged and robbed in South Africa this morning and he is in the hospital there, very badly beaten up and confused. I've been on the phone all day trying to help from far away. Thank goodness he has two very good friends there helping him get good medical care and negotiating the fact that all of is I.D. and passport were stolen. He is finally sleeping (it's the middle of the night there) and hopefully recovering, and I've done all I can, for awhile, from here. A dear friend, who is here with me, asked what I wanted to do now and I said I thought I wanted to wander out and check on the progress of the ducklings. I didn't take the camera, but there are three little beauties out and two more struggling, but nearly free of their shells. It was such a happy sight and one desperately needed by me at this time. The only issue that I have is that the three that are out look like two day old chicks. They are running all over the place (I think it is too warm outside to sit tucked safely away under mom). They are in a large pen (safe from predators), but are wandering further from the nest than I anticipated so I need to cover more of the chicken wire to make sure they don't manage to try to sneak through it and get stuck. I think I can do it quickly without disturbing momma duck too much, and my friend thinks I need a project to take my mind off things. Anyway I will take pictures and post them later, if I can get myself to focus on things other than my current worries.
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I'm so sorry to hear this about your dh, was he there on business? I sure hope he recovers quickly and can come home soon. I'm sure your beside yourself with worry. Glad to hear the ducklings are hatching without any problems. Yes make sure they cannot get through the fencing mama ducks will not leave the nest. They are on their own.
 
Hello, Ms Lydia, update on "Boomer" Well last Friday he was a week old. Everything was going great and then the Drake started picking on him. I guess he thought the mama was paying too much attention to the baby and not enough to him. I would like your thoughts on this as we thought at first he was trying to keep him out of harms way but noticed the drake trying to pick him up by the neck and purposely going after him. Little Boomer was running away from the drake whenever he came near him. Does this mean he will not be accepted into the flock? We are currently keeping the drake out of the nursery where the two ducks and Boomer are but it really is causing some stressful issues because she wants out twice a day to swim with the drake and little Boomer sits in the window watching her and doesn't leave the window until she comes back in. We thought about taking him out but he is an only child and weren't sure since he knows his mom if he'd be ok. So we go through a very long ritual of staying in the barn with Boomer so when mom comes back into the barn we can lock the pen behind her so the drake can't get in to the nursery. It's been stressful at times trying to coordinate everything. We could put the mother and baby into another barn alone but weren't sure if they would be accepted again? We really don't know what to do. The other duck's eggs are due to hatch in the next weeks but Boomer will be a month old by then? We have come to love this little duckling but fear we may have to give him away. This is him sitting waiting in front of the window for his mom to come back into the barn. He's so patient and sweet. Ms. Lydia what would you do?
 
one old chick said:
Hello, Ms Lydia, update on "Boomer" Well last Friday he was a week old. Everything was going great and then the Drake started picking on him. I guess he thought the mama was paying too much attention to the baby and not enough to him. I would like your thoughts on this as we thought at first he was trying to keep him out of harms way but noticed the drake trying to pick him up by the neck and purposely going after him. Little Boomer was running away from the drake whenever he came near him. Does this mean he will not be accepted into the flock? We are currently keeping the drake out of the nursery where the two ducks and Boomer are but it really is causing some stressful issues because she wants out twice a day to swim with the drake and little Boomer sits in the window watching her and doesn't leave the window until she comes back in. We thought about taking him out but he is an only child and weren't sure since he knows his mom if he'd be ok. So we go through a very long ritual of staying in the barn with Boomer so when mom comes back into the barn we can lock the pen behind her so the drake can't get in to the nursery. It's been stressful at times trying to coordinate everything. We could put the mother and baby into another barn alone but weren't sure if they would be accepted again? We really don't know what to do. The other duck's eggs are due to hatch in the next weeks but Boomer will be a month old by then? We have come to love this little duckling but fear we may have to give him away. This is him sitting waiting in front of the window for his mom to come back into the barn. He's so patient and sweet. Ms. Lydia what would you do?
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STINKIN' ADORABLE ! ! !
 
one old chick said:
Hello, Ms Lydia, update on "Boomer" Well last Friday he was a week old. Everything was going great and then the Drake started picking on him. I guess he thought the mama was paying too much attention to the baby and not enough to him. I would like your thoughts on this as we thought at first he was trying to keep him out of harms way but noticed the drake trying to pick him up by the neck and purposely going after him. Little Boomer was running away from the drake whenever he came near him. Does this mean he will not be accepted into the flock? We are currently keeping the drake out of the nursery where the two ducks and Boomer are but it really is causing some stressful issues because she wants out twice a day to swim with the drake and little Boomer sits in the window watching her and doesn't leave the window until she comes back in. We thought about taking him out but he is an only child and weren't sure since he knows his mom if he'd be ok. So we go through a very long ritual of staying in the barn with Boomer so when mom comes back into the barn we can lock the pen behind her so the drake can't get in to the nursery. It's been stressful at times trying to coordinate everything. We could put the mother and baby into another barn alone but weren't sure if they would be accepted again? We really don't know what to do. The other duck's eggs are due to hatch in the next weeks but Boomer will be a month old by then? We have come to love this little duckling but fear we may have to give him away. This is him sitting waiting in front of the window for his mom to come back into the barn. He's so patient and sweet. Ms. Lydia what would you do?
Click to expand...
If the drake is attacking this duckling then your going to have to keep things as they are or he'll kill it I'm afraid. I think once the other ducklings hatch he'll find it easier to accept the changes to his flock but it's going to take time that's one reason we stress about keep mamas and ducklings separated from flock but where they can all see each other because drakes can and will kill ducklings. Not all but why take the chance. . But for now I would just keep him and mama separated form the drake. can you give them a temporary pen with water so mama can wash and you don't have to constantly be standing guard? even a small cat litter pan will work. Boomer is so adorable I'd hate for you to have to give him away if your so attached to him. Which isn't hard to do I love my ducklings/ducks too. What a beautiful duckling a such a good pic. Once new ducklings arrive you'll have to do the same thing so drake can get use to new babies I usually give my mamas and ducklings 3 weeks with temp fencing and house with everyone else able to walk up and visit but no one can get to the ducklings.
 

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