chicks & ducklings at fundraiser

[Anonymous]

Hi,

This morning i checked on my broody hen & there were two fluffy runner ducklings!! They're three days early but that might be due to the hot weather (?)

Shes still sat on 2 duck eggs & 6 chick eggs but im not expecting them to hatch til Friday/saturday.

My question is would the chicks/ducklings be able to go in a pen with mum at a fundraising day when they are a week old? Mum is very calm, happy for me to move her to get her to feed/ check eggs / move empty shells etc

It would take 3mins to drive them to the hall & i wouldnt let them be held - just watched from behind the pen.

The idea was to set up a stall where people pay a small amount to put name suggestions for the babies in a hat to be drawn at the end of the fundraiser....

What do you guys think? These are my first hatchlings so dont want to do anything to endanger them...
Thanks, jo

 

[Davidd]

Hi, did you sett them all together? i.e. duck and chicken eggs on the same day? it's not a good idea to let a broody incubate both together- one or the other is best- they need different feeds and needs-they also take different times to hatch- ducklings are quicker growing, like to have water to bath in (when old enough) and might bully the chicks - the chicks need chick crumbs which contains ACS and the ducklings need duck crumb or non medicated chick crumb. Also, if she has two hatched already then they will be hungry and thirsty by Fri/Sat -it may be best to take the ducklings away and rear them in a brooder- and leave the hen with the chicks (if, and when they hatch)
As for the show. i would wait to see what hatches and go from there.
regards, David

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply...

The chicken eggs went under a week after the ducks... i've left them together for now but am preparing to seperate the ducklings.

This morning there are 3 salmon faverolle chicks & 1 partridge orpington x exchequer leghorn chick! The other two leghornxorp eggs are on their way out too....

Anyone on here have leghorn x orpingtons? Would love to see pics!

The salmon faverolles have gorgeous little feathered feet.. adorable!