Underweight duck

[tessandherducks]

I’ve not heard of the one with iron and phosphate in it. I believe poultry cell would be a better choice
https://www.chickenfans.com/rooster-booster-poultry-cell/

I will buy that, I am getting pretty worried as she doesn't seem to be eating much at all and is so skinny. I have given her duck food, grapes,mealworms and bread. I know breads not ideal but I just wanted her to eat something.is this normal for a broody duck? She ate a few grapes, a few mealworms and about a quarter of a slice of bread, no duck or dog food

 

[Miss Lydia]

It can be hard to help them stay healthy when they don’t take care of themselves. If she’s not eating and looking skinny you may have to step in and break her. Do you have an incubator? It’s up to you but I’d sure hate for you to lose her.

 

[tessandherducks]

It can be hard to help them stay healthy when they don’t take care of themselves. If she’s not eating and looking skinny you may have to step in and break her. Do you have an incubator? It’s up to you but I’d sure hate for you to lose her.

It's night where I am, will it be ok to leave it till the morning?

 

[tessandherducks]

It can be hard to help them stay healthy when they don’t take care of themselves. If she’s not eating and looking skinny you may have to step in and break her. Do you have an incubator? It’s up to you but I’d sure hate for you to lose her.

I do have two 2 week old ducklings that I found abandoned by mother when they where a few days old at a local pond.
Could I give her them? And take the eggs away? Would she take them?, They haven't really attached to me and are pretty nervous around humans so they may enjoy a duck mum.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I guess it’s worth trying but you never know how one will act so you’ll have to stay close by in case it doesn’t go well. That’s great you rescued them poor babies

 

[tessandherducks]

I guess it’s worth trying but you never know how one will act so you’ll have to stay close by in case it doesn’t go well. That’s great you rescued them poor babies

I will make sure to watch them, I'm guessing that it likely won't work but it's worth a try.
Here are a few pictures of the ducklings about 1 week ago

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are precious. I did successfully give my Muscovy a duckling that my Orpington hen hatched since both of them only hatched one duckling she took it without any problems . I didn't want the 2 ducklings not to have a buddy so they got to stay with my Muscovy. My poor hen was not happy but I got her some day-old chicks to raise and that made her happy. I think why this worked so well is she had just hatched the duckling and was feeling very motherly.

 

[tessandherducks]

They are precious. I did successfully give my Muscovy a duckling that my Orpington hen hatched since both of them only hatched one duckling she took it without any problems . I didn't want the 2 ducklings not to have a buddy so they got to stay with my Muscovy. My poor hen was not happy but I got her some day-old chicks to raise and that made her happy. I think why this worked so well is she had just hatched the duckling and was feeling very motherly.

Should I take the eggs away this morning? I did take them, but she just stayed sitting on the empty nest and still got angry when I went to check on her. So I gave them back to her .

She has eaten a bit more this morning, and she did try to forage when I took her off the nest. However, whenever one of my other ducks would walk towards her, she would just start cheeping, fluff her feathers up, and start biting the others And then went back to her neat. So I may need to put the others away for her to forage.

She hated the ducklings and was trying to hurt them, so that didn't work. It was a long shot anyway. If you think I should just take the eggs away, I will do that. So sorry to be asking all these questions, I am very thankful Xx.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can find a way to let her have time off her nest without one of the other ducks getting in her way, boy they can be so temperamental when broody My Muscovy chased everyone around the property, and will still if anyone gets too close to her ducklings. She needs to eat and drink and have time to bathe and poop. It will be up to you if you let her keep her eggs, how many days now 5-7? the eggs are showing signs of life now. Have you candled?
When we take away eggs and destroy their nest they don't immediately break from being broody those hormones take a while to dissipate. Honestly, I have never been able to break one of my Muscovy I usually just let it run its course but I make sure they are out at least 2X a day to eat drink bathe, and poop.

 

[tessandherducks]

If you can find a way to let her have time off her nest without one of the other ducks getting in her way, boy they can be so temperamental when broody My Muscovy chased everyone around the property, and will still if anyone gets too close to her ducklings. She needs to eat and drink and have time to bathe and poop. It will be up to you if you let her keep her eggs, how many days now 5-7? the eggs are showing signs of life now. Have you candled?
When we take away eggs and destroy their nest they don't immediately break from being broody those hormones take a while to dissipate. Honestly, I have never been able to break one of my Muscovy I usually just let it run its course but I make sure they are out at least 2X a day to eat drink bathe, and poop.

I will let her keep them and keep a close eye on her and will re think in a couple of days if she isn't taking care of her self . I am making her come out a few times a day as she doesn't come out herself.
She is my favourite duck, so I will make sure that she is caring for herself and will take the eggs away if necessary.