My indian runner has been sitting on 13 eggs. 2 hatched this morning and they are absolutely gorgeous and lively. When I had a peek this afternoon they were peeping and climbing on top of her. I don't know whether I should take them from her or leave them there. I am worried that she won't sit on the rest of the eggs. I have put some chick starter mixed with water, and seeds right near her nest to encourage her to stay. I need some advice on whether I should take the ducklings away or leave them with her. Will she abandon the other eggs if they don't hatch within a couple of days, and if she does what will happen if I keep them warm or crack them open?? Can anyone help. I am new to this. Thanks.

P.S. I posted a couple of weeks ago about the mother duck eating some of the eggs, I think she was eating cracked and non-viable eggs to clean up the nest. Thanks to everyone who replied.

-- Maryanne from Australia (maryanoel@bigpond.com), November 11, 2001

Answers

My experience is she will stay with the nest another day or two. If they rest don't hatch out by then, they likely won't. I couldn't crack them open though. If anything, put a thermometer under her to get the temperature and then try incubating them at that temperature for a couple of more days.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 11, 2001.

Can you put the remander of the eggs under a setting chicken? An egg is an egg. MY chickens are always suprised what their new babies look like! Just make sure the new babies stay with her to keep warm. I am still hatching mallard eggs, but I use an incubator and a brooder.

-- Susan (baaamaid@goatweb.com), November 11, 2001.

Leave her alone with the ducklings. She'll wait another 24 hours before getting off the nest and taking what she hatches with her. She may very well hatch more of them, too. A mother duck does not abandon her nest---she knows instinctively that the ducklings that hatch have only so long before they use up their food reserves still inside them and need to eat, and if the other eggs aren't hatched by then, so be it. The absolute BEST thing you can do right now is not to bother her. At All. Leave her alone and take the time to admire the ducklings when she takes them on their first parade around the yard. If you interfere, well meaningly or not, you may affect the rest of the hatch adversely.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), November 11, 2001.

Hi Maryanne, post this question on The Poultry Connection, General Waterfowl Forum. Lots of very experienced people on that board who are more than happy to help. How exciting, ducklings in the fall! LOL LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 12, 2001.

Sorry, I should have added that as a rule, there are exceptions, runners are terrible mothers. They are usually sort of willy-nilly about things like brooding. That's the names of my two runner hens, Willy and Nilly! LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 12, 2001.

Hi everyone, Well, mum is still sitting on the eggs, with her 2 little ones fiercly protected! She appears to be cleaning out the yukky eggs as I found a cracked oozy one about a metre from the nest. I am leaving her be just topping up her food every day. If more hatch I will be very happy, if not then so be it! So far she has been a really good mum, which surprises me as I have heard that Indian Runners are really poor mums. I'll keep you posted and let you know whether anymore hatch. LQ - yes - it's spring here, warm sunny weather, jasmine filling the air will lovely smells - wonderful :-) My husband calls the ducks Dopey and Dopette! LOL

-- Maryanne from Australia (maryanoel@bigpond.com), November 12, 2001.