Broody hen /duck eggs.

[Glutton4...]

Ooooh, more piccies PLEEEEEEEEEASE!

[kevnsue]

Hi,latest pictures,4 out of 6 seems to be the final score!!!!!!!!!
Can you hazard a guess as to their sex,do they give you any clues at this early stage ?.

[Nicos]

Awww.......I'm just SOOOooooo tempted!!!!

[kevnsue]

Hi,can someone tell me how long you leave the ducklings with the mother hen?,and how old are they when they start to lay thats if they are ducks and not drakes,cheers kev.

[di]

Sorry I don't know...but how are they doing?
With the chicks we've been advised to keep them with their mums for at least six weeks...at the moment the plan is to keep them together indefinately.Not sure if it's the same with ducks,but I guess as long as they feel the need for the warmth of mummy's wings(& as long as they fit)that they should stay together.
What are your plans for them?Will they have their own run/area?

[kevnsue]

Sorry I don't know...but how are they doing?
With the chicks we've been advised to keep them with their mums for at least six weeks...at the moment the plan is to keep them together indefinately.Not sure if it's the same with ducks,but I guess as long as they feel the need for the warmth of mummy's wings(& as long as they fit)that they should stay together.
What are your plans for them?Will they have their own run/area?

Hi,they are growing very fast,i may leave them with the 6 chickens or i have built a new pen over the ditch on the lottie which sometimes floods.
Also looking for 6 light sussex hens if anyone can help,cheers kev.

[Llamas]

Ohhh, Peepers!
One of our campbell ducks seemed to be toying with the idea of going broody and poor OH got all excited. I tried to gently warn him but one elaborate nest box later she was back after the slugs so we bit the bullet and have borrowed the community silkie hen. Unfortunatly she's a bit small so she only does small batches

[Hilary B]

Ohhh, Peepers!
One of our campbell ducks seemed to be toying with the idea of going broody and poor OH got all excited. I tried to gently warn him but one elaborate nest box later she was back after the slugs so we bit the bullet and have borrowed the community silkie hen. Unfortunatly she's a bit small so she only does small batches

Most ducks (apart from Muscovies) are pretty lousy mothers anyway.
My theory is that the wild ones only learn to look after the babies after losing a brood (or most of one) and get better with each hatching, but tame ones never get to learn that way, because if they lose a lot, they never get the chance to try again. (There is a place near here where there are lots of ducks, the above theory is based on what I see when I go past on my way to the shops)

[kevnsue]

duck update

Hi all,the ducks are now 4 weeks old and are very funny to watch,still not sure as to their sex yet,mother hen is in the right picture,i think she is in moultbut very protective,cheers kev.

[MaureenHall]

Oh that's so cute!!!! The babies are about the same size as their "Mum" !!!

[kevnsue]

Duck update.

Hi all,the duck's are doing fine,mother hen as started laying and i seem to have aquired 5 extra chickens.
I was after light sussex but i might have a mixture.

[CoraxAurata]

Hi all,the ducks are now 4 weeks old and are very funny to watch,still not sure as to their sex yet,mother hen is in the right picture,i think she is in moultbut very protective,cheers kev.

At about 5/6 weeks you will hear the difference - the girls are much louder - though my black runner waited an extra few weeks before getting loud enough to be certain

The runners are probably already more upright by now?

Gorgeous duckies!

[CoraxAurata]

How are the wee ducks now? Must be time for an update

[HayleyB]

Aww, have the duckies taught 'mum' how to swim?

[kevnsue]

How are the wee ducks now? Must be time for an update

Update on the ducks,4 from 7 eggs,turned into 2 drakes(rehomed)and 2 ducks of which one has laid her first egg today.