Call duck nesting

[oliverj102]

Hi there,

I have 2 call ducks and the female is currently sitting on 4 eggs which I'm rather happy about, but my dog has a lovely habit of bringing me the eggs in the morning and lately the male duck has been going mental at her tying to swipe the eggs, understandably. Problem is the duck house was in the main garden as they are my pest control for the veg patches. So to try and save both dogs face and ducks, I've enclosed off an area, moved a large pool into it and picked up the entire duck house, ducks, nest and all, and gently moved it over.

Once moved the ducks atayed inside for about half an hour but then both came out and just went swimming. She was of the eggs for a good half hour before I encouraged them inside, but 15 mins later she went for a swim. It's a warm wet day so I don't know if she knew the eggs would be OK to be left but I hope I've not upset her nest.

The ducks seem totally happy and are now safe from the dog, but I'm not sure if she has decided to abandon them now. Any tips to encourage her to be a mummy? Will being near them make her broody?

Thanks

 

[sourland]

Hopefully she will resume setting on the eggs. I have successfully moved any number of setting chicken hens, but have never been able to successfully move a setting duck hen. They seem as much bonded to the nest site as to the eggs. Good luck.

 

[oliverj102]

The whole nest moved! With her on it. She nested in her house so I just picked her and the house up.only change is her view when she comes out!

 

[Ravynscroft]

A half hour isn't very long to be off eggs... my broody Calls might go off them for a couple hours at least, if not longer when it's warm... no way to force her if she quit, just gotta wait and see... but considering the dog, you had to move them, that stress would have more than likely made her quit anyways... will keep for ya!

 

[sourland]

Has she gone back to setting?

 

[oliverj102]

She is still sitting yes, she comes off a few times each day for 15 mins to groom and swim/eat. The male duck is sitting with her as well now, he goes swimming more but he is just sitting with her like he is keeping her company! Will there be any issues with the drake and the ducklings? I've read some drakes go for them but he seems to be really interested in them.

 

[oliverj102]

Up to day 11 and she is going strong! I leave her a bowl of layers pellets and mixed grain each morning that she wolfs down before a dip in the pool. She has stolen all the bedding from the duck house too and made herself a huge wall round her best. Poor mr duck is sleeping on the wooden floor now! Fingers frossed for the next 2 weeks!

 

[oliverj102]

With 3 days to go she is still determined. I've set up a new enclosure in the garden on grass for them to forage in safely but now have one final dihlema, how to tame the ducklings..... I want them to stay with mummy ideally as she did all the work and deserves them, but I also want them used to people and don't know how protective she will be. She will eat from my hand, but don't know if that will change with ducklings. Any advice?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sit near them as much as you can... don't approach them, let them come to you... leave your hand laying out and let them nibble, climb and get used to it without trying to pick them up... just keep working on that and gradually go from there...

Oh, and might want to separate the drake at hatch time just to be safe... give mama and the babies a couple days to bond then try letting him near them under supervision until he proves he won't hurt them... someone recently had a bonded pair and the drake was fine til the babies started hatching... he grabbed them as they hatched and tried to drown them all, unfortunately he succeeded with 3 before he was caught and stopped...

 

[oliverj102]

Wow brutal! I've only got 1 duck house! The male is sitting with the eggs as much as mummy atm, hopefully he will be ok but I'll watch them. Gonna move mummy when hatching is over to a safer place so may try and lock drake out and he can sleep in my polytunnel!