Broody Mallard behavior

[horsemom1326]

I have a Mallard hen sitting on 12 eggs in one of my horse stalls. She is due to hatch on April 22. Her regular routine has been to take her break from about 3:30 - 5:00 every afternoon. Thursday the 11th was the last time she left her nest. Is this common behavior... to stop leaving the nest 10 days before hatching? Should I make food and water available to her or just continue pretending I don't know she's there?

 

[zbraswell92]

I would put some feed and a lil bucket of water about 10-15 feet away from her nest. Make sure she can see the feed and water too. If she wants it, she'll get some.
Is she a wild hen or hand reared?
If she's wild, just leave her be.