would the drake attack the duckling after they hatch?

[leo3323]

ok my duck has started sitting on her 6 eggs for her first time weeks past and lately Ive noticed that the drake started sleeping close to her nest now he sleeps rite next to her when shes sitting time by time when she gets off the eggs for her break i check on the eggs and the drake always chases and pecks me when im over their is he protecting them ? either ways he always attacks me when i go out side and im curious because they are already hatching and making little noise in side the eggs when the ducklings hatch will the drake attack them?

And how long does it take for the ducklings to get out of the eggs after making a little crack?

 

[satay]

The first time my muscoveys hatched the male killed two of them. I am not sure if this is normal or not but now I seperate them before the hatch. If you have cracks on eggs they should be hatching soon. I have found with mine it was not long at all between crack and hatch maybe 1/2 hour max.

 

[DuckLady]

Absolutely normal. Drakes don't like the competition.

You should separate the duck and her nest with a barrier.

 

[Webfoot]

Drakes and ducklings don't mix. I once had a drake get through some pretty sturdy fence to kill some older ducklings, so now I make sure that the ducklings only go in the strongest pens.