Awhile back, One of my ducks was laying eggs & one morning when walked by the nest, I noticed some of the eggs were gone. Probably 5 or so. So I thought maybe a predator came during the night. But there were no shells to be found. About 2 days later, the eggs reappeared back in the nest.
the same duck started a new nest in my flower bed right by the house. About 20 days or so ago, there were probably 12-15 eggs total in it. But I noticed that the male was still breeding her even after she started sitting on her nest. During her daily hour or so off the nest, he would fly over & breed her the second she came off of it & the egg count kept increasing. The last time I could see all of the eggs, I would say there was Atleast 15-20 eggs.
Today, she came off her nest with one little duckling.. just one. They have walked all over the yard & in the pond. She never went back to the nest. So I went to look at the nest & there were no more eggs!! I was mind blown.
this same duck has probably laid well over 30+ eggs since March. Is this normal? I actually collected a good many & hatched them in my incubator.
My question is.. could she have disposed of the other eggs??? We have not seen a snake around & like I said earlier.. she has faithfully sat on the nest. I’m just confused on if they can actually move the eggs & possibly get rid of the ones that she thought wouldn’t hatch??
edited to add.. I’ve had other ducks laying as well & this behavior didn’t happen with them. It’s just this one duck that has had eggs disappear & reappear & now all of the other eggs are gone.
the same duck started a new nest in my flower bed right by the house. About 20 days or so ago, there were probably 12-15 eggs total in it. But I noticed that the male was still breeding her even after she started sitting on her nest. During her daily hour or so off the nest, he would fly over & breed her the second she came off of it & the egg count kept increasing. The last time I could see all of the eggs, I would say there was Atleast 15-20 eggs.
Today, she came off her nest with one little duckling.. just one. They have walked all over the yard & in the pond. She never went back to the nest. So I went to look at the nest & there were no more eggs!! I was mind blown.
this same duck has probably laid well over 30+ eggs since March. Is this normal? I actually collected a good many & hatched them in my incubator.
My question is.. could she have disposed of the other eggs??? We have not seen a snake around & like I said earlier.. she has faithfully sat on the nest. I’m just confused on if they can actually move the eggs & possibly get rid of the ones that she thought wouldn’t hatch??
edited to add.. I’ve had other ducks laying as well & this behavior didn’t happen with them. It’s just this one duck that has had eggs disappear & reappear & now all of the other eggs are gone.
