When to remove ducklings/How to care for mama

[hop.dot]

We have an Indian Runner Duck who just hatched nine adorable little ducklings. We don’t intend to keep them and they have homes, but it’s going to be a week or two before we can deliver them. This is our first time having naturally hatched duckling and I am looking for advice on the best time to remove the ducklings from the mama: should we do it now or wait until it is time to go to their new homes? They are doing well with her so I am hesitant to take them away, but I wonder if I am making it harder to take them later on. Also, is there any advice on making it easier on the mama duck? Thanks in advance!

 

[Emmytheduckgirl]

I don’t know because I have Pekin ducks and they don’t take care of their kids but my advice is to wait 3 weeks or two weeks until you send them off

 

[Emmytheduckgirl]

Just make sure you keep at least one of the babies so that the mom doesn’t get too sad

 

[MochaDuck]

I'm not an expert, but I'll share what I know.

When my duck hatched a duckling we took it away almost instantly. There were too many predators to keep him there. The mom panicked at first, and pecked at me, but in a few minutes was happy because she'd been cooped up for a month brooding him then could finally move around. The mom may get more attached if you leave the babies there longer, but as far as the babies go, they'll be ok without their mom as long as they have all the essentials (duckings in stores are less than a week old when they go into the store).

I'm not sure how to make it easier on the mom. Maybe keeping at least one will help. But eventually she'll most likely be ok, even if all the babies go to new homes.

 

[Mademoiselle_JubJub]

This is just my own experience but I have found that if the ducklings have a few weeks with the mom duck they seem to develop better survival and social skills. At first the mom generally keeps them close but by the third week she isn’t as protective. It sucks having to separate them but they will all adjust quickly. Best of luck.

 

[chickens really]

Hello, if selling them all you remove them to a Brooder and the Hen will snap out of it in a few days. It won't hurt her if you remove the Ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Mademoiselle_JubJub has the best solution, most of my mama ducks are just about through with teaching by 3 weeks. It's so nice if we can give them the opportunity of caring for their little ones for a few weeks after all they did all the work of brooding and hatching.

 

[MugsyM]

Has anyone had luck with Pekin ducks hatching their own eggs? I have 4 laying. I have none sitting so I am starting to think I have infertile eggs and should toss them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have a drake you probably have fertile eggs just Pekins are more known for their egg laying and meat than their broodiness. We have had a few members though that had Pekins brood an hatch but not many.

 

[MugsyM]

I am going to try to let nature take it's course. I have 2 drakes that are always trying to be "busy". I am just not sure how long to wait is too long.