My 4th yr Mandarin Breeder hatched out 8 babies today left them and is back sitting on the nest. A first for me and I don't know why. My other 4th yr breeder whom just got put back into the cage this week is laying again in the same cleaned out box and her babies are just 3 weeks old and she is flying over to the other side of the nursery attacking the new babies so I brought them in and put them in my brooder box because we have sever weather almost on top of us now and all day tomorrow. Any thoughts. Here is what lead up to this point http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/970761/
Is this a common occurance. They have always left unhatched eggs before and I think the other eggs are dead because her nest box was half in water
Important Duck Question
that is a real head scratcher. never had one leave the babies and go back to the nest. Good move on putting the babies in a brooder box. I would do the same to the one who won't get off the nest. No reason to take any chances with the new babies. that's just me.
wish I could help...
WOW Donna. That is really sad that they have left the babies. I had an immature broody who got off the nest and had no idea what to do with babies. I am very sorry. I believe some are just bad mothers. I have seen it in other animals where the mother does not care for the new borns and need human intervention. It sounds like you have had a heck of a wet season. I am not sure if that had anything to do with it. There are many duck owners on here who can help more than I. I just wish you the best. The brother is awesome that he took to the babies! What a great story!
oh no both are very good mothers. Last year she took care of her brood and the other mothers 27 total when I had to bring them inside. I didn't want to bring both Mothers in because the one is very aggressive at protecting them. That is why I am asking. They are both doing something they have never done before in the 4 yrs I have had them
Any changes to their environment, numbers, anything?
I am sorry. I just dont know why they would just start doing that now then.
:(
For some reason, mother animals will often attack other females' babies. That's why you need to put them in a separate house until the babies are big enough to take care of themselves. Why she would try to kill the other babies, but abandon her own, is probably just because she is young. Good luck.