Hi, I really need all of your expertise on this please.
My mallard has been sitting on her nest since Jan 1st and today the ducks were acting different. I currently have 2 males and 1 female and the males spend the majority of the day inside instead of outdoors. So, I went into the pen to check and noticed 5 dead ducklings near the hens nest. They were all wet laying apart from one another. I moved the mother from her nest and there was one live fluffy duck chirping under her with 4 eggs left. I'm not quite sure what happened to the dead ones.
Will the males or female kill the ducklings or were they born dead and she threw them out? Also, how long does it usually take for the full nest to hatch is there viable eggs? Any and all advice will be appreciated. Thank you all!!
My mallard has been sitting on her nest since Jan 1st and today the ducks were acting different. I currently have 2 males and 1 female and the males spend the majority of the day inside instead of outdoors. So, I went into the pen to check and noticed 5 dead ducklings near the hens nest. They were all wet laying apart from one another. I moved the mother from her nest and there was one live fluffy duck chirping under her with 4 eggs left. I'm not quite sure what happened to the dead ones.
Will the males or female kill the ducklings or were they born dead and she threw them out? Also, how long does it usually take for the full nest to hatch is there viable eggs? Any and all advice will be appreciated. Thank you all!!