blackforestbirds
Chirping
I acquired two Muscovy females at the end of April. I was told they were probably hatched in February but realize now it was probably more like December because they became broody on July 1. I love them dearly but have no previous experience with ducks which has been so stressful because I couldn't figure out what was happening. They have apparently built nests somewhere under the very large house I live in but I'm physically unable to get underneath, it's basically crawl space. I have tried shining a flashlight under the house but I'm unable to see anything. I worry about them constantly, they only surface once every 2-3 days to eat and run frantically back under the house. I tried to barricade the areas I saw them enter with baby gates and bags of landscaping rocks but they just went under the deck to get there.
I don't know what to do! They abandoned their duck run and seemingly have no interest in returning. They have a duck house in their pen, I don't understand why they insist on going under the house. They completely changed overnight and appear to be miserable. They went from loving each other and spending all day happily following me around to screeching maniacally and being physically aggressive with each other. I don't know if they are molting naturally or ripping out their feathers to line their nests but they look terrible. They aren't eating every day and I'm worried a predator could get them since they're no longer sleeping in their house at night. It's been 40 days and they're not giving up. What on earth can I do now?? How do I get them to stop sitting on unfertilized eggs and killing themselves in the process?
If by some miracle they do stop on their own, how can I prevent this from happening again? Will they ever go back to the way they were before this started? I'm a nervous wreck.
I don't know what to do! They abandoned their duck run and seemingly have no interest in returning. They have a duck house in their pen, I don't understand why they insist on going under the house. They completely changed overnight and appear to be miserable. They went from loving each other and spending all day happily following me around to screeching maniacally and being physically aggressive with each other. I don't know if they are molting naturally or ripping out their feathers to line their nests but they look terrible. They aren't eating every day and I'm worried a predator could get them since they're no longer sleeping in their house at night. It's been 40 days and they're not giving up. What on earth can I do now?? How do I get them to stop sitting on unfertilized eggs and killing themselves in the process?
If by some miracle they do stop on their own, how can I prevent this from happening again? Will they ever go back to the way they were before this started? I'm a nervous wreck.
. I had to use hardware cloth and cover every small entrance they could get under. Even places I was amazed they got into. At least now they brood inside their house and I make sure they come out daily.
