I had a few Khaki babies hatch a week ago (my first). I have since done what everyone told me to and have kept the drakes separate, as well as the other hen who is not the momma just to keep them safe.
Now, I have a momma hen who has decided she cares nothing about the babies or the eggs that are left anymore. In fact, three more were in the middle of a hatch this morning, and she wouldn't come back to the pen like normal. I guess she's decided she didn't want a big family after all. I gave her about an hour, and when the 3 that had holes stopped cheeping or moving, I took them all out and put them in my incubator (eggs had gotten quite cool - she didn't even cover them like normal). They seem to be getting a little more lively now, have resumed chipping away at the shells.
I was wondering, how long before you can introduce the babies to the rest of the ducks? Yesterday, one of the chicks got out of the pen right under momma before I could close the door and both drakes and the non-broody hen attacked it. It was horrible! They flipped it over, were pecking at it. Plus, these three constantly walk around the pin, looking in and pecking at the chicken wire. It irritates me.....
My husband keeps telling me, "cuz it's not that baby daddy", hence the subject.
And, as an aside, has anyone else had their broody lose interest in her eggs or chicks like that ?
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