opening. resist the temptation to pick them up and handle them. they normally spend the first day under the mother so that the oil on her feathers rubs off on them so that by the time they leave the nest they can go directly into the water. don’t be alarmed when you see them on the water the next day. they will not drown. they will get a bit wet and it is most important that they can get to the mother easily so she can keep them warm. when the ducklings hatch they are literally skin and bone and about one breath away from death. it is only by 