- Jan 11, 2012
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Last year on the side of our house a Muscovy was about 4-5 days from hatching a full clutch. I was watching her daily and then just suddenly she's gone and EVERY single egg too. Not even a shell cracked or egg broken open, nothing! So, I thought someone who hates Muscovies had done it at night.
Recently, we had two mothers sitting on clutches of about 15-18 eggs. One was very near our front porch. Each time we'd walk out she'd give a warning chirp. The other was a bit farther back. That one I built a little plastic fence around that would allow her to get in and out but prevent her from taking the babies to the pond immediately where about 75% die. I was planning on putting them in our fenced back yard for the first two weeks (where she could join them) until they were bigger (yes, I know, I shouldn't mess with mother nature).
Today, I woke up and found the front porch nest completely gone. Mother duck gone and EVERY single egg as well. The back nest about 15 feet away that was fenced with 1 ft of plastic, was still there but Momma duck who NEVER leaves her nest was gone and the eggs were very, very cold.
So, my question:
1. Assuming we have stuff like foxes and possums running our suburban neighborhood, do they eat the entire egg without breaking it - thus leaving no evidence or did someone come on to my porch and take them?
2. How long can eggs that were about 4 days from hatching be in 50 degree weather? I now have them in an incubator at hatching humidity and temps but I really hope to save them.
Thanks.
Recently, we had two mothers sitting on clutches of about 15-18 eggs. One was very near our front porch. Each time we'd walk out she'd give a warning chirp. The other was a bit farther back. That one I built a little plastic fence around that would allow her to get in and out but prevent her from taking the babies to the pond immediately where about 75% die. I was planning on putting them in our fenced back yard for the first two weeks (where she could join them) until they were bigger (yes, I know, I shouldn't mess with mother nature).
Today, I woke up and found the front porch nest completely gone. Mother duck gone and EVERY single egg as well. The back nest about 15 feet away that was fenced with 1 ft of plastic, was still there but Momma duck who NEVER leaves her nest was gone and the eggs were very, very cold.
So, my question:
1. Assuming we have stuff like foxes and possums running our suburban neighborhood, do they eat the entire egg without breaking it - thus leaving no evidence or did someone come on to my porch and take them?
2. How long can eggs that were about 4 days from hatching be in 50 degree weather? I now have them in an incubator at hatching humidity and temps but I really hope to save them.
Thanks.
