[northfifeduckling]

Currently I have 1 broody hen sitting on a duck egg and a broody duck on a few eggs - both are about to hatch at the same time. Provided anything comes to something and I am faster than the sparowhawk - who am I to move into the safe house - I only have one !) after hatching? can I add that single duckling to the others once they are born? or the other way round? I can not move any of them earlier as the ducks never take to it and even the hen abandoned the eggs last time I tried to move her. 

[Hopewell]

Presuming that the broody duck is on duck eggs you can probably add the other single one to her brood. I'd do it in the evening so hopefully it will spend the night under her and pop out with the others in the morning. It is more likely to work if the single is the same colour as one of the others. Even if you don't add the single to the other brood I'd still move the bigger brood to the 'safehouse'.

[northfifeduckling]

well, I was thinking of after the hatch as no way I can get near the duck without her panicking...so shy  . And yes, all eggs are from tthe same batch.

[doganjo]

If they are all from the same batch how come a hen got one?  Did I miss a thread?    I'd agree - add the singelton to the others at night once you have transported momma duck and babies to the safe house.  Don't do it too soon though, wait 24 hours to make sure they are settled and well, and the only problem I can see is that mother hen is going to be b---dy annoyed!

[northfifeduckling]

well, long story  I have one very persitent broody hen and after I had to chuck out the first lot of duck eggs as they went over time I thought Igive her a neatly labelled egg from a new batch we had just found. Then I went away to see my mum and when I came back OH said that the duck's been stting day and night on the rest - he just didn't do a head count, I bet  and remembered her after a few days