Separating ducklings from mother?

[Waterfowllady]

Hi so I own show call ducks, along with other breeds, and one of my hens is hatching 3 eggs right now, 1 already hatched and other two on their way. She kicked out her other eggs for my Cayuga who layed their eggs with her and 1 of them already hatched and flopped over on its back out of the nest and died. Anyway, my hen will have to be in a pen either way since she and her babies are so small so I’m asking if it is cruel to take the babies away from her. It will be the same cleanup and I don’t mind the heat lamp expense. Thoughts? Yes or no?

 

[sylviethecochin]

It is cruel to take them from her. But they're your birds, and you know what's best for them. If it's necessary (she's endangering the babies, her being with the babies is a huge inconvenience, etc.) then you should do it, cruel or no. She'll get over it.

But if it's not necessary, why do it?

 

[ShannonR]

It is cruel to take them from her. But they're your birds, and you know what's best for them. If it's necessary (she's endangering the babies, her being with the babies is a huge inconvenience, etc.) then you should do it, cruel or no. She'll get over it.

But if it's not necessary, why do it?

X2!

 

[Waterfowllady]

It is cruel to take them from her. But they're your birds, and you know what's best for them. If it's necessary (she's endangering the babies, her being with the babies is a huge inconvenience, etc.) then you should do it, cruel or no. She'll get over it.

But if it's not necessary, why do it?

It’s not necessary, it’s becase my call ducks are a lot easier to handle at shows, it’s better when they are youst to you and calmer

 

[Kalimak]

Unless it’s for the chicks’ safety. I would not separate a chick from its mom.

 

[Waterfowllady]

Long story, but it turned out to be a actual emergency and now I have a unhatched egg and the single duckling. Duckling is doing great but wish me luck with hatching the egg!!

 

[Brad Nimbus]

I believe it would be incredibly stressful, especially if they're within earshot.

I'd consider it cruel.

 

[Fishkeeper]

You can get them used to you while they're with the mother. Just do as you would normally- bring them treats, handle them when they're comfortable with it, and so on. The only difference is they're under a bird instead of under a heat lamp.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I've taken my call ducks hatchlings from mom before I knew better.. . at the time my enclosure wasn't set up for ducklings so I didn't really have a choice.
The mama duck quackd the first night for a while but acted like nothing ever happened by the next day.
So if you need to. . do it. She will get over it fast as long as you keep the duckling out of sight and ear shot.
If you don't have to don't.
So far all my calls have made excellent moms!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Luck.