Missing Duck...Nesting somewhere?

[Miss Lydia]

I FOUND HER NEST!! Little booger is only about 50' from night pen under a huge (20' diameter) pine tree that has thick matted branches all the way to the ground. I could hardly see her from like 2 feet away while I was half under the tree.

Do you think if I put food and water near her and throw a chicken wire fence around the tree it would be good? We have 10 acres and lots of raccoons and coyotes but she's pretty close to the house and REALLY well hidden (think that lovely Rouen coloring mixed in with dead pine needles and branches). I want her to hatch those babies if she can.

It's risky especially if you add to it by putting feed and water there. Well hidden doesn't mean a pred won't smell her out.

 

[allergymama]

It's risky especially if you add to it by putting feed and water there. Well hidden doesn't mean a pred won't smell her out.

I am worried that if I try to move the nest she won't stick with it and will go do this again somewhere else I won't find her. (Plus, we were going to hatch some in our incubator, but if she wants to play momma that's WAY easier

). I thought about tying the dog out near her. Dog won't bother her, but thought it might discourage other predators?

Every night she is coming back into the pen with everyone else. Last night she missed roll call and I had everyone all settled in and started to walk away and she came running at me just a hollerin'! If she doesn't sit on them overnight they can't hatch, anyway, right? Is worrying about saving the nest a moot point?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am worried that if I try to move the nest she won't stick with it and will go do this again somewhere else I won't find her. (Plus, we were going to hatch some in our incubator, but if she wants to play momma that's WAY easier

). I thought about tying the dog out near her. Dog won't bother her, but thought it might discourage other predators?

Every night she is coming back into the pen with everyone else. Last night she missed roll call and I had everyone all settled in and started to walk away and she came running at me just a hollerin'! If she doesn't sit on them overnight they can't hatch, anyway, right? Is worrying about saving the nest a moot point?

Sounds like she maybe getting ready to start her brooding so now would be the ti me to move her nest. take a shovel and get as much of the nest and the eggs and put them and her in a quiet safe place let her stay in there for 1 day with food and water, either she'll stay or she won't but at least she'll be safe.

 

[allergymama]

So, we trimmed the tree back far enough that we could shimmy under it (in the pouring rain no less). Got her off the nest. Used a snow shovel to move it (30 years of pine needles made that part easier) and put her and everything back in the duck shed. Now, hoping she sticks with it. There were probably 18-20 eggs. (It was dark by the time we got her all moved.)

Fingers crossed! Thanks for the advice @Amiga @ And [@]Miss Lydia[/@]

 

[Miss Lydia]

So, we trimmed the tree back far enough that we could shimmy under it (in the pouring rain no less). Got her off the nest. Used a snow shovel to move it (30 years of pine needles made that part easier) and put her and everything back in the duck shed. Now, hoping she sticks with it. There were probably 18-20 eggs. (It was dark by the time we got her all moved.)

Fingers crossed! Thanks for the advice @Amiga And <a href="/u/42327/Miss-Lydia" data-huddler-embed="href" data-huddler-embed-layout="inline">@Miss Lydia</a>

Keep us updated on how it goes. You want to make sure none of the other ducks messes with her that may run her off the nest. My ducks like their own space when nesting, which keeps me going to find just that perfect place for them inside.

 

[allergymama]

I am going to block off the shed so only she can get in at night. Then when everyone is outside during the day, i thought I should leave the door to the shed open so only she can come and go to get water, etc., as she pleases. Would that be ok?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am going to block off the shed so only she can get in at night. Then when everyone is outside during the day, i thought I should leave the door to the shed open so only she can come and go to get water, etc., as she pleases. Would that be ok?

That is similar to what I do mine have stalls so I just leave the stall door open and they come and go as they please. When mine first start to brood though some of my other ducks will sneak into their stall when their out so I have to mark the eggs so I can take out fresh one.

 

[allergymama]

That is similar to what I do mine have stalls so I just leave the stall door open and they come and go as they please. When mine first start to brood though some of my other ducks will sneak into their stall when their out so I have to mark the eggs so I can take out fresh one.

What do you mark them with? I think someone did that last night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What do you mark them with? I think someone did that last night.

I use a magic marker you can just make a dot or smiley face what ever you want but it helps to keep the older ones from getting mixed up with the fresh laid. Then if you want once brooding starts and she is off the nest you can go in and take out the oldest dirtiest eggs so she won't have so many to sit. Helps that way too. If I am doing that I mark 1- so that is best done when they first start building their clutch.

 

[allergymama]

Sad.

she has abandoned the nest. We kept her with it for two days but she hasn't sat on it. What are the chances that she will do this again?