Help!!! Mama duck attacked!

[MamaFarmer28]

I’ve had a Mallard Duck in my flower bed sitting on her nest since late March, she’s there every morning.. and the past 5 days she’s not left her nest.. last night my neighbor knocked on my door and told me she was in the middle of the road and a cat had her. I ran and shood off the cat, we picked her up and laid her back on her nest. But when I went to check on her last night she was gone, and this is the first morning she’s not been on her babies in weeks. I’m scared she ran off to die. It’s suppose to freeze tonight, it’s currently snowing and the high is like 30 degrees... there’s 12 exposed eggs. I want to get an incubator to help them if she did go, but I don’t know what to do.. please any information will help!

 

[PollyGirl21]

Yes, an incubator would definitely help. Even if she is coming back, You should still get an incubator to be prepared. If she does come back, then you should bring her into your house or a warm spot and check her over for injuries. If she wants to sit on the eggs then great, but if not, don't push her. Make sure she has good water and food near her, and that she is warm. Good luck! I hope your mama duck comes back home safe and sound! Keep me updated!

 

[MamaFarmer28]

Yes, an incubator would definitely help. Even if she is coming back, You should still get an incubator to be prepared. If she does come back, then you should bring her into your house or a warm spot and check her over for injuries. If she wants to sit on the eggs then great, but if not, don't push her. Make sure she has good water and food near her, and that she is warm. Good luck! I hope your mama duck comes back home safe and sound! Keep me updated!

THANK YOU! I will!!!

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

If the eggs have gotten cold like below 70 degrees for a length of time they most likely will not hatch.

 

[PollyGirl21]

Your welcome, I'm glad I could help!

 

[chickens really]

Terrible..Cat possibly came back and got her?..
Incubator is needed to try to save the Ducklings..

 

[MamaFarmer28]

I really hope not! But I wouldn’t be surprised!

 

[MamaFarmer28]

If the eggs have gotten cold like below 70 degrees for a length of time they most likely will not hatch.

It hasn’t been 70 degrees at all here except one day since she’s had them... do you think they even had a chance from the start? Because up until recently, she wasn’t ALWAYS sitting on them.. she would leave for periods of time through day and night, I’m assuming to eat and take care of her self.

 

[chickens really]

Eggs can hatch..My incubator was off for 24 hours and all eggs hatched..Candle them to see?..

 

[MamaFarmer28]

So, I called Ohio wildlife center and they basically said, I can incubate them.. which will cause them to imprint on me and they won’t be able to survive alone... or I can place the eggs into the Woods and “let them become part of the ecosystem” aka become food.... both of those options broke my heart.