Frecs
Well-known member
I have Muscovy Ducks (about a year old) -- two drakes and two ducks (not the ideal ratio by far). One duck was setting a nest off in the woods somewhere. But, now she isn't so I can only surmise that her ducklings were victims of predation. The other was setting a nest right under my rabbit hutches. I wasn't sure of the length of time as I failed to mark the day she started setting. Over the past week, I've been telling myself to take the eggs and dispose of them as I really thought they were duds -- but I just couldn't bring myself to do that to her. She was being so faithful; how could I take her eggs?
Well, this morning as I started to tend to the rabbits, I noticed something move under her but wasn't positive. So I watched. And, not too long I saw the movement again. Yep, something was moving under her! A duckling!
I couldn't leave her there -- that was no place to raise a family. So, I went to get Mother to come hold the duck while I moved her babies. Oooohhh, that was one mad duck! There were seven already hatched, one coming out of the egg, and two other chipping at theirs. I moved them into a safe area and put momma duck in with them. It took her some time to calm down and get on with mothering but she did.
Tonight, I reached in to take away the eggshells and was going to take the two unhatched eggs but she rolled them toward herself as way of saying "leave them alone, lady!" so I did. I'll take them tomorrow -- she should realize by then that they aren't going to hatch -- she has her brood now.
I'm so glad I didn't toss that eggs!
Tina, at the Not Quite There Yet Homestead and Rabbitry
Well, this morning as I started to tend to the rabbits, I noticed something move under her but wasn't positive. So I watched. And, not too long I saw the movement again. Yep, something was moving under her! A duckling!
I couldn't leave her there -- that was no place to raise a family. So, I went to get Mother to come hold the duck while I moved her babies. Oooohhh, that was one mad duck! There were seven already hatched, one coming out of the egg, and two other chipping at theirs. I moved them into a safe area and put momma duck in with them. It took her some time to calm down and get on with mothering but she did.
Tonight, I reached in to take away the eggshells and was going to take the two unhatched eggs but she rolled them toward herself as way of saying "leave them alone, lady!" so I did. I'll take them tomorrow -- she should realize by then that they aren't going to hatch -- she has her brood now.
I'm so glad I didn't toss that eggs!
Tina, at the Not Quite There Yet Homestead and Rabbitry
