Will my duck get broody?

[Lil Drake40]

Glad to see them moving around good. What about the first one how’s it’s leg doing?

 

[Ducktown]

Glad to see them moving around good. What about the first one how’s it’s leg doing?

Same as it was, the only change is, it managed to learn how to use only one leg and use the second one only to remain stable. I tried if I could somehow help it go towards normal position or help it straighten up, but I couldn't do anything. It's rigid and I think I would do more damage by forcing it to straighten up.

 

[Ducktown]

I know they have all hatched, however mine had the same yellow green color in the shells when hatched. It was embryonic waste. The ones that had a noticeable amount smelled strongly of duck pee and poop.

I didn't smell anything but I think it must be the reason. I guess it could also be from the hen's diet. Perhaps they also had strong orange yolks. All of them hatched this time. Last year, I only managed to get one hatched and another one died when 1 day old. Last year, I incubated 7 eggs, this year 3. 100% success rate if I count out the issues with first duckling's leg. Things like that happen I guess. Perhaps incubator is not that bad, I only need to make sure I cycle the egg positions when turning. If I ever do it again

 

[Ducktown]

Today, I brought the 3 ducklings outside. It was nice warm and sunny and I wanted to clean up the brooder. Well, they were happy outside, nibbling grass and searching for food under it until one of the hens arrived. She was not very happy to see them, she was shaking and puffed up, walking around them slowly, watching them, checking their smell and in the end she snapped a few times at them. At that point I pushed her away, and she seemed to get the hint and walked away. For a minute at least.

I packed them back and took them inside afterwards. 30 minutes was enough for one day since they are still very young.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That actually looked good, she was curious but not aggressive that's a great start for first day!! Do you think the one with the bum leg will be able to live outside with the rest?

 

[Ducktown]

This hen is the one that eats from my hand - the only one that managed to get that imprinted. I got them at almost adult age. She stopped being broody yesterday - she left the house and had fun in the pond. That's when she heard them and came to check what's going on.
I'm not sure about the leg issue, He hops on one leg. It is unbelievably hungry (GREEDY) and is gaining weight fast. I'm feeding other two treats separated, because this little crippled bugger gets to the food first. No matter where I place it, he's there in a millisecond. I think when he gains some more weight, it will be hard for him to move. At that point, it will have a pond to swim in. He will have hard time following other ducks, that is sure. You've seen videos, my adult ducks are always running. I think the little ones will get taught the same when they start hanging out together.
If you remember, I've had deficient ducklings I bought. 2 of them died (greed related suffocation) one of them got fat and had problems standing, not just walking! With 2 otherwise healthy legs that is. When I started having him on a strict diet (hard thing to do when they are all roaming around catching tons of slugs and bugs), he stopped gaining so much weight and his muscles strengthened. He was completely normal from that point on, he stopped growing and reached adult size anyway. Hopefully I can expect something similar with this one. Limited mobility. He can be really fast, I hope he can keep it up as he/it gets older.

 

[Ducktown]

To finish the story i started...

When I started bringing ducklings outside, a crow killed the small duckling. It was extremely lively and full of energy at that point and would end up great. He and the large healthy duckling were jumping out of the brooder box all the time, walking around the room for a while and then jumped back inside. When the small companion passed away, he hardly evee jumped out of the brooder, he became much calmer and just sat with the injured duckling. He still keeps him company.
The injured duckling is struggling. He is jumping around using one feet and usually gets something stuck to it's deformed leg and hardly manages to get free again. He is full of energy and I hope when he gets feathered up, he will be bale tom ove with the other ducks.

The other ducks... Well they are somewhat bitchy. Especially the hen that was most caring during her laying. She will just dart toward the ducklings and scare them, sometimes she quietly sneaks behind them and snaps (gently) at their tail just to make them run in fear. The two are terrified of then, but I managed to start locking them together in the duck house. They pick different sides of the house and don't seem to be fighting while inside.

Yesterday they started swimming for the first time. The injured duckling went inside and then the other one went in as well. I can post a photo or two or a video if anyone is interested. They are doing quite well, all things considered...

 

[Lil Drake40]

Love to se them. Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Ducktown]

They are getting more and more comfortable in the water. Especially the disabled duckling is now starting to swim in a directiin he chooses, before, he was kind of circling and couldn't keep the direction. He will learn soon. He mastered one leg hopping already.

 

[Lil Drake40]

It’s amazing how they adapt thanks for sharing