Help: Keepng babies safe...

[tull14]

I am looking for some advice. I have a broody hen sitting on about 15-20 egg. I'm estimating their hatch date to be around December 19-22 somewhere in that date. My question though is that we have 10 adult ducks and I'm afraid that my new hatchlings will be trampled. Does anyone have any advice on keeping them safe but something that the mama can still get out and about. I have 2 heat lamps in the barn already for them, I'm just looking for a way to keep them from getting stepped on.
Thanks!

 

[Teila]

Edited: Sorry, my bad, I read that you had a broody chicken in with ducks .. should have taken notice that it was in the Duck Thread .. must need coffee

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Anyways, I have removed my somewhat irrelevant post

 

[revans2003]

I would run some chicken wire and create a mini space near a heat lamp for the momma and duckies to be safe and warm

 

[frenchbet]

Congrats on your upcoming ducklings. I am living what you may be getting ready to go thru. Our duck hatched 9 ducklings and I had seperated the drake before they hatched and allowed the other hen to stay with the mama while she sat. We have a very large pen so we divided that in half with snow fencing we happened to have. His side had large pines for him to go under and we set up a shelter and has his own pool. The snow fence worked great as he could watch them while being seperated. I had to put the aunt in with the drake after the ducklings hatched because she was being mean. So the mama and 9 ducklings had the side with the coop and they are still seperated at 6'weels. Even at six weeks they almost look full grown but they are still babies with a lot of their behavior so you know an older duck could intimidate them. I tried several times to put them together but the aunt is still mean. The drake was ok, but he's in with her to keep her company. I will continue to try. We had a set back with an injured baby, not related to the other ducks, so waiting for her to continue to recover before trying again. Ducks can just be mean to ducklings so it's great if they can all start out together, but I think the aggression towards ducklings can be pretty common.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats on your upcoming ducklings. I am living what you may be getting ready to go thru. Our duck hatched 9 ducklings and I had seperated the drake before they hatched and allowed the other hen to stay with the mama while she sat. We have a very large pen so we divided that in half with snow fencing we happened to have. His side had large pines for him to go under and we set up a shelter and has his own pool. The snow fence worked great as he could watch them while being seperated. I had to put the aunt in with the drake after the ducklings hatched because she was being mean. So the mama and 9 ducklings had the side with the coop and they are still seperated at 6'weels. Even at six weeks they almost look full grown but they are still babies with a lot of their behavior so you know an older duck could intimidate them. I tried several times to put them together but the aunt is still mean. The drake was ok, but he's in with her to keep her company. I will continue to try. We had a set back with an injured baby, not related to the other ducks, so waiting for her to continue to recover before trying again. Ducks can just be mean to ducklings so it's great if they can all start out together, but I think the aggression towards ducklings can be pretty common.

Thank you so much for your input .

 

[tull14]

Mama is sitting in our barn currently I am getting antsy to meet our newest babies. I am a little stumped on how to contain them but still allow Mama to get outside. Any thoughts?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mama is sitting in our barn currently I am getting antsy to meet our newest babies. I am a little stumped on how to contain them but still allow Mama to get outside. Any thoughts?

Mamma may not want to go outside right away she won't want to leave her babies. Is there enough room for her and them to move around? Also my Muscovy would just go right over the 4'plastic fencing I had up around her little house she only did it once though. I always wait till my ducklings are at least 3 weeks old before they are out with the rest of the flock. But everyone has already met through fencing.

 

[lomine]

Just remember, if mom can get in and out so can the other ducks.