Hi, Im a newbie to your forum, but have been a lurker for a while, and really enjoy reading your post and photos! We have a Mallard, who was orphaned, she is almost a year old, shes a bit of a bad tempered thing but at the same time is very sweet and loves to have a chat with me! We also have just found a 2nd orphaned Mallard, only had it a week and think it is only a week old, just so cute, don't as yet know the sex! Also have Border Collie, who makes a great Duckling sitter!! Anyway, the help I need if anyone is able, is with the older Mallard, called "Ducky", she started laying just over two weeks ago, and has laid almost every day, she had made her nest in a flower pot in the garden and all was well, she is eating double the amount of food as she normally would, but im guessing that is normal, im also getting double the amount of poo, none of which is solid, Is this normal? On Friday she sat on her nest for 9 hours before coming in, she did the same again on Saturday, but on Sunday she stayed there all day, only coming in at dusk because i went and got her, and the noise she made was heart breaking, it almost seemed like she was crying, we repeated the same process yesterday, and as soon as i let her out today she went straight to her nest. She walks around the house when made to come in making and awful noise and with her feathers all fluffed up, I just don't know what to do for her, is she going Broody?, has anyone one else any experience of similar behavior? Sorry this is a dreadfully long first post, i just want to help my poor baby and know that she is ok!! Thanks for any help in advance!
