grunger Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Hi all, Vera our apricot call duck has been patiently sitting on her clutch of 10 eggs and so far 4 have hatched (unfortunately one didn't make it ) but there should be more to come So what do we do now? We've mashed up some boiled egg yolks as one of the other member mentioned on one of the other threads, at least until we can get some chick crumb tomorrow. As none of the books we have so far suggest what to do if the mother is raising them, rather than us via an incubator? At the moment they are in the laying section of their eglu cube (without roosting bars and a ramp not ladder) which is butted up to a secure WIR, but we're not sure whether to let the other female and the two other males we have in the cube? or even how much water and when etc. they need it? I guess they seemed to have reproduced pretty well over thousands of years this far on their own without to much human intervention but it would be nice to give them the best chance to start with (as they are very cute!!) So any tips of what to do at various key points as they get older would be much appreciated Cheers Andy G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Hi I wouldnt let the others in as they may cause an argument for food etc(give mum & ducklings a bit of peace for a while..few weeks in fact), they may also inadvertently kill the ducklings too. I would let them see each other if that is possible. Just some chick crumbs will be needed in a shallow dish and some water again in a shallow dish. The lip on the cube inside is quite high so you may have to make sure that they dont fall out completely etc. Ducklings can be quite active and robust too. You could raise the bedding up to the lip level. If they are going to end up on a pond for a swim if the weather warms up make sure you give them again a shallow dish of water to let them waterproof their down etc. I dont know much about call ducks but ducklings usually start to be interested in food after a couple of days and if outside will dart around for ie bugs in the air etc. You will be suprised how a tiny duckling after a few days manages to eat ie a growers/layers pellet too. They look really lovely by the way , congratulations.indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 We had a duckling hatch earlier today too You should really separate the broody and chicks to a separate broody coop (hutch and run) - the other ducks may kill the ducklings. They'll need to eat chick crumb in a shallow feeder, and water in a shallow tray too. They might want to try and start swimming around in a couple of days, but not too deep - the broody will pass some of her waterproofing onto the ducklings ... it sounds odd but they can drown at such a young age. Mom looks great - ducklings are cute aswell Maybe see if you can get a book for a bit of help/research Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunger Posted June 11, 2010 Author Share Posted June 11, 2010 Hello All, Many thanks for the replies.....so gratefull for advice from those more experienced at this duck stuff than ourselves! We've got a couple of duck books now and also gone with some advice posted, but I guess mainly we've kept a close eye on them with Vera (Mother duck!) and checked out what she's chosen to do naturally (all the while keeping them in a fox proof run) and been ready to step in if she proved to be a bit rubbish as a mother....but she's been the most amazing caring mother duck! Phew. Following lots of sitting and keeping them toastie, plus a little food and water, On the second day she got them all up and out of the Eglu, and marched them down to the small pond (we watched closely incase of any drownings!) and they all jumped in....and swam just like their Mum! Quite a relief.... They had a great splash about, and she fairly swiftly gathered them all up and trotted back into the house and nestled down on them again, so figure they all got warm again. Her trips out with them to the pond have been brief and successful, and when the sun has been shining on the pond area, she has stayed out a little longer with them all and they've sunned themselves on the duck-decking (the pallet that the small pond's sunk into!), so I figure she's pretty darn good at regulating their temperature all by herself - which amazes us. They now have chick-crumb and pletiful water, and have begun to gobble it up. Always attempting to catch flies in the air too....don't know if that's normal duckling behaviour?! She spends most time with them in the house though, despite the swimming trips, and seems to still sit on them like a brood of eggs - is this normal?? We've watched her abit and noticed that she takes great care not to stand on them and doesn't sit too tight, she kind of fluffs her feathers out further, so they tuck in under a wing I guess? Wife worries that they'll suffocate under Vera when they're out of sight! But three days in, and they're looking tough and healthy....and mighty cute. There's just three though - we think the other eggs are no goers as nothing has emerged. Suppose we can remove them now?? The only problem we have experienced is one duckling jumping through the small holes in the chicken wire run on occassion, but luckily have quickly whisked her up and plopped her back in with Vera! We have now lined all of the bottom of the fence with a 2-3 inch high board, so that they can't just walk through the holes as previously - they are tiny. Many thanks again. Andy G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Sounds like its all going fine Catching flies is normal - so cute with their tiny little wings! Sitting on them is normal too - she's just keeping them warm under her ... feathers will let a lot of air through so they won't suffocate. They've been doing it for years If she's still sitting on the eggs you could give them a chance - try candling them to see if there are ducklings inside, or put them in a bowl of warm water. If theres anything inside the eggs will bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 She sounds like a really good mother The wild mallards we have I am always amazed at in the hot sunshine how many ducklings suddenly emerge from underneath their fluffed up mother..seems like hundreds! You will be suprised how quickly they grow, I think with the mallards its about 7-8 weeks by the time they are fully adult feathered. We have 4 families all at different stages, the biggest ducklings are starting to resemble their mother ie we dont know if they are males or females(they all look females the male mallards are starting their moult, our lawn looks like the inside of a duvet) good luck they should go over to pellets quite quickly too again even a little duckling can manage those. indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunger Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 Er....one last question if anyone can help: does anyone know how best to treat lice or potential pests, and whether such treatment would harm the ducklings? I'm not sure, but it seems that one of the other adult ducks may have lice or something (but not exactly sure) so wondered whether we should sprinkle that 'Barrier' lice powder or something around the bedding (straw) and around the floor of the pen (wood chips)?? Or would this harm the little ducklings? The mother duck and the ducklings all appear to be the picture of health still, but as they share some areas with the other ducks (they kind of switch over during the day) I want to make sure it's safe and pest free for the ducklings especially. Cheers again for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Hi are you sure your older ducks have lice as in all the years ive kept ducks never seen any lice on them not sure about lice powder and ducklings but not sure if it would be any good on ducks as they are always getting wet so wouldnt last long i use to sprinkle red mite powder round my duck houses but now i dont bother as i have never seen any so i save it for the chickens leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunger Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 No not 100 % sure - one of the other ducks looks a tiny bit less good than usual and seems to spend a lot of time (almost too much even for a duck!) preening/pecking, and particularly preening her kind of under carriage area, and seems to be pecking out some feathers from a few areas - in addition to some feathers lost through mating. And additionally, I guess it was the safety factor for the ducklings, just thinking that they may get nasty things from the other ducks as having to share areas, and although I hose it down and clear up alot each day, I figured they'd be really susceptable to either lice or things from the ducks droppings. So thought if there was a preventative step I could take it'd be worth while giving it a bash. Maybe my new duckling mother paranoia taking over though! Mrs Andy G! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 You can try some mite powder Ducks aren't meant to be able to get them 'cos of the swimming ... but I think I saw a couple on Jemima earlier on in the year. Mite powdered the eglu and all is fine now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Are you sure they are not moulting, ducks do moult Even when I kept ducks I never saw a mite and they lived with the wild ones out all day on different ponds. They do look really dishevelled when they are moulting?? The only time my own ducks would lose the back of the neck feathers(red and bald) was when the wild mallards tried to mate with them in the spring) Just dont use anything too strong. Mine lived in pure muddy duck mess squalor when we had a lot of rain and I could never work out how the Aylesburys stayed so immaculately white good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Could i ask what breed the mother duck is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 She's a Blue Fawn Call Duck Mollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Shes lovely.. I want one. Hmm im sure i have room in my wir if i section a bit off.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Remember they are very noisy, may as well have a cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Hello Tom Decided against the idea.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
