My eco solution to rat problems

[christmasoompa]

Hi all,

 

I'm hoping that some of you wise peeps may be able to give me some advice.

 

We have 2 pairs of gorgeous white call ducks. Recently the two females have been sitting on nests, which has been very exciting, but unfortunately a couple of weeks ago we had a wild duck come on to the pond with her ducklings. We thought that was fine, until I realised that one of the call duck females was off her nest and when I investigated, it was because the wild duck had pushed her off and was on the nest with her ducklings!

 

Unfortunately, they'd crushed two of the eggs. I scared them off the nest and watched to see what would happen, Mummy call duck went straight back on the nest but again was scared off by the wild duck. I've no idea why the wild duck was trying to get on her nest, but she was clearly determined to push the call duck off it.

 

I wasn't sure what to do, but after the third time of scaring the wild duck off and her returning straight away, I decided to take the remaining eggs (which were stone cold) and put them in our incubator (which was already up and running with a couple of batches of chicken eggs). I didn't expect anything as the eggs were so cold and I didn't know how long the mother had been off them, plus I know call ducks are notoriously hard to hatch.

 

But to my delight, out of the 6 remaining eggs we now have 2 ducklings this morning and another 2 that have pipped and may well hatch.

 

So my question is, what do I do with these ducklings? Do I hand rear them, and reintroduce them to the other call ducks in the garden in a few weeks time? Or is there any chance I could take them out earlier to give them the best chance of imprinting on their actual mother rather than me?

 

Help! Any advice very gratefully received as hatching ducks is a new one on me!

 

Thanks all.

[miller30]

Hi if the mum is still broody on a nest you could give them back at night and try and trick her or if she is not you will have to rear them under heat and introduce them back at about 16 weeks if you have a drake leanne

[christmasoompa]

Thanks Leanne. Unfortunately she's not broody, she's not gone back to the nest and is swimming around the pond as usual - probably planning batch no. 2 which hopefully the wild ducks will stay away from this time!

 

So they wouldn't be able to be introduced until 16 weeks because of the drake? That's a real shame, I'm guessing that by then they'll have completely imprinted on us, but presumably they can still live outside on the pond with the others even if they have?

 

Thanks again for your help.

[miller30]

Yes they will be fine living out with all the other ducks I reared my indian runners indoors they thought I was mum they are now 7 and I have never had any problems with them getting along with all the others the reason its about 16 weeks is the drake wont care how old or what sex they are he will try and tread them and it could damage them bloody sex pests they are lol leanne

[christmasoompa]

Ok, great, thanks Leanne. Looks like I'm hand rearing 3 call ducklings then, yay! I'm already completely smitten with them so I'm secretly quite pleased I don't have to try and reintroduce them to their real mum.

 

I don't suppose you know anything about ducklings eyes do you? One of them appears to be blind in one eye (it's all dry and shrivelled looking, and he's not blinking on that side). He's healthy other than that though so I'm assuming should be ok to live a normal life with the others?

 

Thx again for your help.

[miller30]

Oh dear I would give it a gentle clean a couple of times a day with cooled boiled water and see how he gets on as long as he/she can find the food and water just keep and eye on it sorry not meant as a joke leanne