ElleMc
Songster
Hey all. So, for those of you who know my plight, I was going to take my duck to a lovely farm after her sister died, but my husband surprised me and brought home a duck. Well, it's a male mallard and they are getting along very well.
So, my female went broody the other day and she won't come home. We have a 5 acre pond that she and Beau (that's the boy Mallard) swim on, and then they come home at night. She hasn't been laying eggs in the pen, so I figured she was laying somewhere on the pond. I watched her for signs of being egg bound but didn't look too hard for the eggs.
Well, the other day she didn't come home. Or rather, she came home, ate, and left and wouldn't come in for the night. The pond is fenced so I wasn't too worried so I figured I'd get her later.
Well, three days now - she comes into the yard and then runs back out. So I watched where she was going. I found out she's gone broody and is sitting on a nest. I'm not super worried about predators in the summer, but I *really* don't want ducklings. I live in a subdivision in an incorporated suburb (it's not the country even though we have huge yards) and just don't think having an entire flock is a good idea.
It's only been a few days, I "candled" them and there's nothing. What will happen if I take her eggs from her? Will it scar her for life? Will it be like a miscarriage for her? I'm a bit torn and don't know what the best action is for her at this point.
Thanks
So, my female went broody the other day and she won't come home. We have a 5 acre pond that she and Beau (that's the boy Mallard) swim on, and then they come home at night. She hasn't been laying eggs in the pen, so I figured she was laying somewhere on the pond. I watched her for signs of being egg bound but didn't look too hard for the eggs.
Well, the other day she didn't come home. Or rather, she came home, ate, and left and wouldn't come in for the night. The pond is fenced so I wasn't too worried so I figured I'd get her later.
Well, three days now - she comes into the yard and then runs back out. So I watched where she was going. I found out she's gone broody and is sitting on a nest. I'm not super worried about predators in the summer, but I *really* don't want ducklings. I live in a subdivision in an incorporated suburb (it's not the country even though we have huge yards) and just don't think having an entire flock is a good idea.
It's only been a few days, I "candled" them and there's nothing. What will happen if I take her eggs from her? Will it scar her for life? Will it be like a miscarriage for her? I'm a bit torn and don't know what the best action is for her at this point.
Thanks