Help! I think there's something wrong with my Quackers

[MagickalLoneWolf]

Hello everyone! I am extremely concerned about our 6 month old mallard Quackers. She started laying last month (a lot sooner than we expected) and since she is a single duck none of her eggs were fertilized. She has been sitting now for almost a month (the hatching eggs should be here in a couple days). She hasn't eaten or drank well this whole time which concerned me but I figured it was normal. However, this week I have noticed that she shakes horribly when she stands and she has now started throwing up as well.

Any idea what could be wrong with her? Is she going to be okay?

 

[GranderTheGander]

No. Get her off the nest. She is not taking care of herself when nesting, and that can be fatal. If she goes back nesting when the hatching eggs arrive, which she should not, that can be fatal, too. Never let a duck or goose sit if she's not eating, drinking and bathing normally when getting off the nest twice a day. Also, never let one sit on rotten eggs or sit for days and days after good eggs should have hatched. What is she throwing up?

 

[MagickalLoneWolf]

No. Get her off the nest. She is not taking care of herself when nesting, and that can be fatal. If she goes back nesting when the hatching eggs arrive, which she should not, that can be fatal, too. Never let a duck or goose sit if she's not eating, drinking and bathing normally when getting off the nest twice a day. What is she throwing

No. Get her off the nest. She is not taking care of herself when nesting, and that can be fatal. If she goes back nesting when the hatching eggs arrive, which she should not, that can be fatal, too. Never let a duck or goose sit if she's not eating, drinking and bathing normally when getting off the nest twice a day. Wh

No. Get her off the nest. She is not taking care of herself when nesting, and that can be fatal. If she goes back nesting when the hatching eggs arrive, which she should not, that can be fatal, too. Never let a duck or goose sit if she's not eating, drinking and bathing normally when getting off the nest twice a day. What is she throwing up?

Thank you so much for your reply. As far as what she's throwing up, it all depends on what she ate. Typically it's water, tomatoes & spinach. She seems to handle the peaches, bugs and lettuce just fine.

The thought of this being fatal is horrific. Any suggestions as to what I can do to get her to eat and drink more. And how to keep her off of her nest short of taking her eggs from her which she is highly protective.

 

[GranderTheGander]

I would pen her up inside for a while, but I realize not everyone will bring a duck inside. You need to take her eggs away, though, and destroy the nest! Put bricks or wood there, if need be. You have to get her to refocus on a life of not sitting on eggs all day and night, so she'll eat, drink, forge and bathe more. Are you feeding her grain products--such as waterfowl or chicken feed, corn, scratch, wheat, oats, etc.? If not, she might not be getting enough protein or other nutrients since she is sitting most of the time and not forging. Besides lettuce, I've never fed ducks any of the other things you mentioned, so others here, who feed a more diverse diet, will need to give their opinions about what she's eating. I hope she is okay today. Is she an only duck? If so, getting at least one other female might make her be not so desperate to hatch ducklings, since she would already have other duck company.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

What are you feeding her? Are you just feeding her fruits, veggies and bugs?