Help...We’re having babies!

[Tarp]

We live in Savannah GA and when We bought our home 5 years ago, there were around 10 wild white crested ducks in our pond. Now, there are only 5 and one has laid 9 eggs under our utility trailer. We noticed the eggs probably 3-4 weeks ago but no mom was sitting on them. Several days later we noticed the mom sitting on them. In the last 2 weeks, she’s started feathering her nest and refuses to leave, even when we are mowing the lawn. We want to learn more about them and what, if anything, we should do to help her. I gave her a bowl of water today because it’s terribly hot in South Georgia now, but who knows if she’ll drink it or not? I’ve read some that 25% of the babies may not survive because of a lethal gene. We are very hopeful though that some do survive! Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

It is a white crested pekin. Someone must have dumped her (or previous owner left them) as well as the others because pekins are domestic birds and can't fly.
That was good to leave some water. Maybe some fresh lettuce or peas? They will only leave the nest when they need to.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

 

[Tarp]

It is a white crested pekin. Someone must have dumped her (or previous owner left them) as well as the others because pekins are domestic birds and can't fly.
That was good to leave some water. Maybe some fresh lettuce or peas? They will only leave the nest when they need to.

Thanks. I’ll leave her some lettuce. Any thoughts on why she wasn’t sitting on them in the beginning?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

They gather their eggs to whatever number they feel is a clutch and then they will sit on them to brood. Hopefully they are fertile eggs.

 

[Tarp]

WE HAVE A BABY!!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats!!! so precious and it has a little cotton ball on it's head. Can you fence off mama and baby so they will be safe from preds? That lil one will need a shallower waterer too, If it can't get out of something with water in it it could very well drown.

 

[Tarp]

Congrats!!! so precious and it has a little cotton ball on it's head. Can you fence off mama and baby so they will be safe from preds? That lil one will need a shallower waterer too, If it can't get out of something with water in it it could very well drown.

Thanks! Will change the water bowl and try to fence it off somehow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How many more eggs is she on?

 

[Tarp]

Started out with 9. Mama pushed 3 out of the nest which didn’t hatch. So she’s sitting on 5 now.