Will a duck accept other people's ducklings: can it leave its brood and will the babies survive without a female

Duck meat is unusually tender and fragrant. Ducks are unpretentious in food and care. Unlike chickens, ducklings have a low mortality rate. These reasons are enough to recommend even novice poultry farmers to grow these cute birds in communication. Ducks rarely lay eggs. Therefore, many owners buy additional baby ducklings in an incubator or in the market for their brood. The question becomes relevant: will the duck at home accept other people's ducklings as their own?

Will a wild duck accept someone else's duckling?

The main motive for the actions of animals is physical necessity, which ensures the survival of themselves and their offspring.

Lifestyle of ducks in nature

All kinds of ducks nest on the ground. They arrange a warm place in order to make it easier to warm the eggs for 26-31 days. They build a nest from grass and their fluff, sometimes first digging a small hole in the ground. The female lays up to 12 eggs in April-May. The ducklings hatch wet from the remains of their developmental environment and must dry under the mother's belly for about 3 hours. From the very beginning, babies can walk and swim.

Living near a pond or a swamp, the chicks, along with the duck, constantly swim and dive, getting their own food. After water procedures, they tend to dry as soon as possible, each time using their mother's warmth. And the duck, after all, also cooled down in the water, despite the salutary lubrication with its fat from the gland at the base of the tail.

Someone else's children

Ducks often live in colonies. If a duck has very few eggs, a more prolific female can throw her in her nest. Babies cling to their mother for less than 2 months. When a duck feels that it is difficult to keep her brood warm, she drives away other ducklings. If few chicks were born or some of them died, little ducklings can be adopted into the family.

Can Mom leave her ducklings?

In poultry, the natural instincts are weakened or disturbed. And the duck can suddenly get up from the nest. Therefore, expectant mothers need to be looked after. If there are several mother ducks on the farm, the question “What to do?” does not occur. Abandoned eggs are quickly distributed among them.

The mother hen can also help out. After birth, ducklings will have to be kept separately. In the event that the babies hatched safely under the duck, she will no longer leave them, but will carefully teach them to eat different food, rinsing it thoroughly in water.If a bird is allowed into the river, it will teach you how to dive.

Can ducklings survive without a duck?

Chicks are more comfortable and calmer with mom. But raising ducklings is not difficult even without an adult bird looking after them. All care will be provided by a person.

For this, the first 2 weeks of babies are kept in a cardboard box at a temperature of 26-28 °C.

Feeding

When feeding ducklings for the first time, they need to be attracted to food. Usually the first portion of at least a few newborns is forced into the beak. Then they tap with a finger near the food to attract the attention of the kids. Having tried the food, the chicks begin to set an example for the rest. Feed Ingredients:

• boiled buckwheat or millet porridge;
• chopped greens;
• crushed boiled egg.

Ducklings that have lost their appetite or are weak and pushed away from food by their comrades are force-fed until they get stronger.

The first week of feeding is repeated every 2 hours. In the second week - after 3 hours. Then, until the end of the first month, they are fed 4 times a day. From the second month, they are transferred to hard food, serving it 3-4 times a day.

Adaptation to independent living

If the ducklings are lively, look he althy, by the end of the first week of life in sunny weather they are taken outside in a box. First they sunbathe for 20 minutes. Next time - 30. All the second week increase the duration of the walk. In no case should hypothermia be allowed for babies: some will die, many will get sick. From the 3rd week, if it was possible to harden, the ducklings are released to the ground, they are allowed to splash water from small jars.

It is under human supervision, separate from other animals and birds. From the second month, chicks accustomed to street conditions, if necessary, are attached to the poultry yard.

In the wild, ducklings fly well 1.5-2 months after birth. Poultry also feels confident at this age.

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