Moving mom & hatchlings (ducks) semi-urgent

Runestone · #1 07/23/12, 09:13 AM

I have a beautiful Muscovy duck that nested outside. Today, the ducklings are starting to hatch..no idea how many there might be. I have a nice protected area just for ducks and babies so I need to move her there to be safe. If there are eggs that are still pipping when I go to move her...will she abandon those eggs or will she continue to sit until all are hatched?
Thanks for the advice

GrannyCarol · #2 07/23/12, 10:50 AM

I always waited until they were done hatching to move them, otherwise I'd expect her to leave the eggs that aren't hatched. Can you put up some sort of temporary protection without bothering her too much?

Runestone · #3 07/23/12, 11:37 AM

Hi Carol,

Thanks for that info. I do have some temporary fencing that I can put up. She nested in my perennial flower bed directly under my bedroom window! Thankfully, there's lots of vegetation and it's the kind of perennials that can be tramped on

Since it's on the north side of the house, she's got plenty of shade since it's been so hot here (+30C) for weeks...NOT normal for my neck of the woods.
I'm anxious to see how many she has!

Danaus29 · #4 07/23/12, 02:53 PM

Get a temporary brooder set up, big plastic tote or swimming pool with some sort of bedding (I like pine shavings) and food and water dishes. If the last eggs take a day or 2 to finish hatching the older ones will wander away from mama. If this happens take the older wanderers and put them in the brooder until mama duck is ready to leave the nest. Once you get her settled in her new quarters give her back the wanderers.

Word of warning though, some Muscovies are excellent mothers and will raise all you give them. Others are horrible mothers and end up killing their own offspring. Keep an eye on her until you find out which kind she is. If she starts killing the babies remove them all and hand raise them.

I had one that would hatch out every egg she could find but wouldn't get off a nest to tend to her babies. Had another that would kill her new hatches but raised every single duckling once they got to be a week old. Most of them were great mothers that were very protective of their new hatches up until they were a month old.

KSALguy · #5 07/23/12, 09:07 PM

Let her be. It takes at least 24 hours to get everyone hatched give or take. The babies won't leave her. Baby scovies stay bunched up really good. And she will know when to get up. If you start taking them away she will likely attack you and leave the nest. UnleSs by some off chance other hens were laying in her nest after she started setting all her eggs will hatch togather. Just let her finnish hatching and slowly bring her brood out. THEN put them all in the brooder pen.

Runestone · #6 07/23/12, 09:40 PM

I put a temporary fence around her and at last count, 8 lovely ducklings. I put a waterer near her because it's so darn hot and she did a great deal of huffing. I'm certain she will be a good momma duck. I just hope that no predator comes by tonight..she's been there safely for all this time, so I think she'll be okay for another night.... and she is underneath my bedroom window....