Читать книгу Duck Eggs Daily - Lisa Steele - Страница 18

Raising ducklings, referred to as “brooding,” is fairly easy, but be forewarned – it can be messy. Fortunately, ducklings’ cuteness more than makes up for any mess they make! They do need a bit of care to survive and grow into healthy ducks, so before bringing your ducklings home, there are some basics you should know.

If you were lucky enough to hatch your ducklings under a duck, she will keep them warm and be sure they learn how to eat and drink; so all you need to do is provide her a secure location out of the elements, separated from the rest of the flock for safety’s sake, and safe from predators. It’s always a good idea to have a brooding area ready, though, because sometimes a duck will successfully hatch her ducklings but then not be a very good mother, stepping on the ducklings, becoming aggressive toward them, abandoning them or losing interest. In that case, they will need to be moved into a heated brooder.