Little Stuart

[mama duckie]

Hi guys
Our little Stuart is sitting on eggs. We didn't want more duckies but didn't have the heart to take all the eggs away from her. She was sitting on a whole bunch of them so we only took away the outside ones, that were cold anyway and left her with five. There is a mix of eggs and am hoping there aren't any Muscovy (35 days of sitting!) but I can't tell the difference between our Runner's eggs and the Muscovy's because they really do look the same . Stuart is Welsh Harlequin.
Her nest is under the baths! But it seems dry enough...

 

[Abriana]

Very cute! But that doesn’t seem like a safe nesting place. Predators can rip through chicken wire, or stick their paws in and grab your duck. I would move her to a safe place, like the coop, or replace the chicken wire with hardware cloth.

 

[mama duckie]

Will move her and see how she goes...

 

[Abriana]

Will move her and see how she goes...

Just want to make sure she and her ducklings stay safe! Preferably move her after dark, keeps her calmer.

 

[mama duckie]

We have a very low predator threat here so hadn't considered that. Have never lost a duck or chicken from the pen. She has been moved into a dog house in the middle garden of the pen that has another fence around it while the shrubs are growing. That will be a good place for her and the ducklings once they hatch, if all goes well. She is sitting and settled... we were able to move the whole nest not just the eggs so that was good.

 

[Abriana]

We have a very low predator threat here so hadn't considered that. Have never lost a duck or chicken from the pen. She has been moved into a dog house in the middle garden of the pen that has another fence around it while the shrubs are growing. That will be a good place for her and the ducklings once they hatch, if all goes well. She is sitting and settled... we were able to move the whole nest not just the eggs so that was good.

Good! I wished I lived where you did-foxes, hawks, and raccoons everywhere! Only one predator attack though, hawk most likely. Keep us posted about mama and post pictures when the ducklings hatch!

 

[mama duckie]

Sweet Stuart ended up abandoning the nest so we have 3 eggs in the incubator. Yesterday I saw their little hearts beating away . They look to be around day 6. I was worried Stuart would be wary of me now but she ate out of my hand and let me pet her.