13 Muscovy duck eggs, days from hatching suddenly disappear & Momma Duck is devastated.

[Luv Ducks]

Sorry for your loss.
While we're playing name the predator, I'll go with Ravens.
They will fly off with whole eggs and return for more. They're very stealthy and clever. I have caught them on camera going through the bird door into the coop to steal eggs.

My Duck eggs are pretty heavy! How in the world do they carry them while flying?

 

[Pollo Blanco]

My Duck eggs are pretty heavy! How in the world do they carry them while flying?

Unlike crows, ravens are rather large!

 

[Luv Ducks]

Unlike crows, ravens are rather large!

Do they carry them in their mouths then? I wasn't sure if there was a way that they had talons that they could use or how it was done. Just curious. Thanks for the info. I have seen some really big what I thought was crows here but maybe they were Ravens.

 

[McChooky]

I have a huge rat snake I need to get rid of. They're better known as chicken snakes because they eat young chicks and birds.They'll crawl right into a nest and steal eggs while the hen or duck is still sitting on them.They'll fight them if they try to defend the nest.They are a constrictor and will smother their prey by squeezing them to death or swallowing them head first.Anything too big they spit back out-dead.

 

[McChooky]

I'm sorry for your loss! You may have more than one snake.Old timers always said if you see one its mate is close by.

 

[McChooky]

Minnow traps with an egg inside is the easiest way to trap and relocate.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Do they carry them in their mouths then? I wasn't sure if there was a way that they had talons that they could use or how it was done. Just curious. Thanks for the info. I have seen some really big what I thought was crows here but maybe they were Ravens.

Yes, in their beaks! I realize that Runners don't lay the largest eggs, but the first time I saw the raven flying by with the egg, it wasn't obvious that it was a duck egg. Ravens have bluish eyes, and they have a much deeper call than a crow.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/overview

 

[Luv Ducks]

Yes, in their beaks! I realize that Runners don't lay the largest eggs, but the first time I saw the raven flying by with the egg, it wasn't obvious that it was a duck egg. Ravens have bluish eyes, and they have a much deeper call than a crow.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/overview

Thanks for the information. I would have never guessed that a bird could do that.

Yes, in their beaks! I realize that Runners don't lay the largest eggs, but the first time I saw the raven flying by with the egg, it wasn't obvious that it was a duck egg. Ravens have bluish eyes, and they have a much deeper call than a crow.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/overview

It looked like that by the territory map for them Ohio is excluded from them. That is probably why I have never seen any or knew of their capabilities. Thanks again for the information. It was most interesting to me.