How do I keep predators from my broody muscovy?

[CrzyChicLady]

I have an adult pair of scovies. They were hatched in late winter. They free-range and hang out around our large pond (aside for the daily visits to the house to beg for grains). The male has been trying to mount the female (not sure if he's been successful). They don't have a coop or pen but I would like to have a safe place for her to go broody (assuming she does). I've heard somewhere that an elevated nesting box would be suitable so I was thinking of building something with three nesting boxes, elevated 3'. Where do Muscovies like to lay and brood? Would she use something like this?

 

[bwmichaud]

I have plastic storage totes from Wal-Mart that I use for nests. I cut a large hole in the side and filled it with hay. The ducks love it, and it's waterproof. Mine isn't elevated, it sits on the ground under the duck house. Right now I have 2 Muscovies sitting on 15 eggs each. Every night they come off the nest for food and water and the drakes try to mount them. Luckily for the girls, they can fly much better than the boys and usually get away.

 

[DVTO2]

I would think whatever nest box you have would have to be in a fenced in area to be predator proof.

 

[CrzyChicLady]

So I should fence my ducks up if I hope to hatch out some ducklings? No chance otherwise?

 

[SaraFL]

Quote:
How big of a tote are you using, and how big of a hole? Should the hole be cut all the way to the bottom, or should there be a lip of some sort?

 

[learycow]

I have a blue barrel that has the top cut off. I put hay in there and my hen went broody within a few weeks. She now has 12 (last time I counted) eggs that she's sitting on. I fenced in a large area and put up electric fence on the outside. I don't really have foxes or anything like that, but my dog was trying to get her. My dog got zapped by the fence once and now won't go near it!
I have a small feeder in an enclosed area (a box made out of plywood, with a hole for in and out). The water pool is in the pen too. She only gets off the eggs 2-3 times a day for a very short period of time. The male and another female are in there with her too.
I not only fenced it up to keep the dog out, but when the babies hatch I don't want the mother to take off with them! She's been known to roam but I want to know where she is when she has the ducklings.