I need to know if we should take the baby away. Our little Black East Indies seemed like she was only somewhat committed to hatching eggs (she seemed to take a lot of long breaks), but she managed to hatch two ducklings. One had been out toddling around (safe in the nighttime house) and I had caught a glimpse of the other yesterday. When we went out to check in the evening, the mom was frantic to get out with the other ducks, so we let her and she charged out, leaving her baby behind. I checked the nest and found the second duckling dead, and no signs of others. We almost took the duckling away last night, but didn't want to have it alone in the house. So this morning once again the mom was frantic to get out so I let her, and the duckling toddled after her but she pretty much left it in the dust. I was surprised that the other big ducks ignored it, but our Blue Swedish started poking at it and the mom was not doing anything to protect it, so I snatched it up and carried it around for about 15 minutes. When the mom was ready to go back in the nighttime house with it I shut them in, but then she acted anxious to get out again and was actually stepping on the duckling a little bit. Finally she went in her little nest hut and the duckling followed her in, but I'm a little skeptical about her abilities to protect it or keep it warm. I really have no idea how "mothering" ducks typically are. Do you think she's doing a good enough job?
