Is duck nest OK...??

[irisshiller]

Hi everyone, I'm here to pick your brains again

I have a mallard duck who is sitting on a nest of eggs at the moment. She had in total 12 eggs if I counted right. The eggs are due to hatch this Wednesday and excitement and tension are mounting She made a nest next to the pond between the bamboo. I was worried about the nest flooding in the rainy season, so I transferred the whole thing into a cat carrier which I placed in the same spot. She accepted it and is brooding happily in there. The male is keeping watch.

There have been some heavy rains but as far as I can see the nest has stayed dry. A few days ago, she kicked 2 eggs out of her nest. They were cold when I discovered them. We opened them and there were 2 dead ducklings inside. I wonder why she did this? Did she know the ducklings were dead and did she throw them out for that reason?

Last night, the pond filling system seems to have malfunctioned and the whole area around the pond was flooded. I am so worried the nest got flooded as well! I can't really see too well inside, the mother doesn't ever seem to leave the carrier, but the straw by the opening is wet. When I get too close, the male stresses and the female hisses at me. I should probably leave her to it and hope for the best, but I can't stop worrying! Will the eggs be OK even if they got wet? It seems to be nests would get rained on all the time in nature, but who knows.

This is her:



Thanks and regards from a hysterical first time duck mummy

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone, I'm here to pick your brains again

I have a mallard duck who is sitting on a nest of eggs at the moment. She had in total 12 eggs if I counted right. The eggs are due to hatch this Wednesday and excitement and tension are mounting She made a nest next to the pond between the bamboo. I was worried about the nest flooding in the rainy season, so I transferred the whole thing into a cat carrier which I placed in the same spot. She accepted it and is brooding happily in there. The male is keeping watch.

There have been some heavy rains but as far as I can see the nest has stayed dry. A few days ago, she kicked 2 eggs out of her nest. They were cold when I discovered them. We opened them and there were 2 dead ducklings inside. I wonder why she did this? Did she know the ducklings were dead and did she throw them out for that reason?

Last night, the pond filling system seems to have malfunctioned and the whole area around the pond was flooded. I am so worried the nest got flooded as well! I can't really see too well inside, the mother doesn't ever seem to leave the carrier, but the straw by the opening is wet. When I get too close, the male stresses and the female hisses at me. I should probably leave her to it and hope for the best, but I can't stop worrying! Will the eggs be OK even if they got wet? It seems to be nests would get rained on all the time in nature, but who knows.

This is her:



Thanks and regards from a hysterical first time duck mummy

Maybe i don't know my breeds very well but that doesn't loo like a Mallard, maybe it's the lighting. Okay i see two problems the nest flooding and the water maybe containing bacteria and seeping into the eggs, and predators, what is your plan for mama and ducklings when they hatch, she won't keep them in there to vunerable to preds so will they just live out in the open where prey birds can swoop in and help themselves or 4 legged can pick them off? or why not move mom and dad and eggs into a safe pen where she can have protection for a couple weeks till ducklings are faster and have some age on them before facing all the dangers of the great big world. She looks very content I'd think moving her along with crate would be pretty easy. dad most likely would follow.

 

[enriquec]

I definitely don't think that's a mallard.

My advice for eggs would be more speculation than advice but they usually know what they're doing. My guess is not the best spot but I'd wait till hatch and then move them safe place. Probably kicked two out for a reason

 

[irisshiller]

Thanks!! Well they are not really out in the open, they are in a fenced yard, but it would definitely be possible to move the crate with nest and mum to one of the cages. I also have a small flock of muscovies running around, if they are likely to hurt the ducklings this would be another reason.

What breed would you say they are? Ducks that are not muscovies are only called "brechiot" here - non-muscovies basically So that's why I called them mallards. But I would be glad to be corrected. Here is another picture of them:

 

[enriquec]

I believe I've seen the female but don't know. Male looks like rouen mix, or mallard?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks!! Well they are not really out in the open, they are in a fenced yard, but it would definitely be possible to move the crate with nest and mum to one of the cages. I also have a small flock of muscovies running around, if they are likely to hurt the ducklings this would be another reason.

What breed would you say they are? Ducks that are not muscovies are only called "brechiot" here - non-muscovies basically So that's why I called them mallards. But I would be glad to be corrected. Here is another picture of them:

Can't see the female real good but look to be Welsh Harliquin Beautiful Ducks.

 

[goldenautumnsun]

Those are definitely Welsh Harlequins. I have a set myself and when I show off pictures of my male, most people mistake him for a mallard.

My girls are laying regularly, but don't seem to have any interest in building a nest or going broody- they pretty much just lay the egg wherever they happened to be at the moment. I really want them to hatch out some duckling!! Did yours build her best by herself? Did you have to put out any bedding materials, or did she figure it out on her own?

 

[donnavee]

Such pretty ducks. If you think they are safe though, I think I would wait until they hatch before moving them. Anytime I have tried to move a duck nest, they abandoned it. Once the ducklings hatched, no problem as Mama is going to stay with her hatchlings. I do agree that the Mama tends to kick out eggs for a reason so I'm guessing they had already died.
Good luck, hope it's a great hatch.

 

[buff goose guy]

Those are definitely Welsh Harlequins. I have a set myself and when I show off pictures of my male, most people mistake him for a mallard.

My girls are laying regularly, but don't seem to have any interest in building a nest or going broody- they pretty much just lay the egg wherever they happened to be at the moment. I really want them to hatch out some duckling!! Did yours build her best by herself? Did you have to put out any bedding materials, or did she figure it out on her own?

I don't think that it's a welsh harlequin its probably mixed with one but the female is way to dark to be considered a welsh harlequin, she is t the snowy coloration that all welsh harlequins have.

 

[buff goose guy]

Ohh as for the kicking out the eggs part, don't worry about that she's just doing the natural thing most mothers I have do kick out some eggs because the egg could feel wierd or something inside went wrong, I don't know the mother seems to know though. I usually take those eggs that have been kicked out and put them in the incubator, some hatch while other times they don't .