broody duck

[small farm in texas]

My one year old pekin duck is sitting a clutch started out with 16 now only 7 is she breaking them? If so why?

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

she could be removing the ones that are dead?

 

[Jpat]

You have a broody pekin so you won the lottery already, Where are the old ones going? Must be some evidence

 

[ShadyGlade]

If you're not finding the eggs somewhere around the nest I'd say it's likely that a predator is helping themselves to your duck eggs.

 

[Jpat]

If you're not finding the eggs somewhere around the nest I'd say it's likely that a predator is helping themselves to your duck eggs.

Would a predator take eggs from under a duck?

 

[ShadyGlade]

I've had them taken from under every manner of bloody including turkeys. Snakes are especially good at robbing the nests of brooding birds. But we've also caught crows, rats and raccoons in the act.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I've had them taken from under every manner of bloody including turkeys. Snakes are especially good at robbing the nests of brooding birds. But we've also caught crows, rats and raccoons in the act.

she's in Texas so it could be any of those things you mentioned!

 

[Texag87]

My first thought was snake

 

[Miss Lydia]

Snakes yes. Where is she sitting? Last year my little OEGB was sitting on 11 eggs inside the coop in a nest box about 4’ off the floor, I went out one day and all were gone . So I gathered her daughters eggs and gave to her 4 few days later they dissappeared so I moved her nest box an all to a small coop where she was locked in so nothing could get to those eggs. Next day go into the coop to clean and there on the roost right in front of where the nest box was lays a huge black snake wondering where his free lunch was. Snakes are sneaky. OEGB eggs are tiny snack size too.

 

[DuckyDonna]

My first thought was snake

Mine too! I hate snakes so much just thinking about them freaks me out.