Missing Muscovy Duck Eggs

[donpropst]

Okay here is the mystery. We got a young hen and drake in the fall of 2016. The hen laid her first clutch of eggs (20) in March 2017 and they all hatched the end of April. We kept one of the female offsprings. The older hen laid eggs two more times in 2017. We ate the one clutch of eggs, but the second clutch we were going to let her hatch. She had laid about 12 eggs, but by the time she started sitting on them, she only had 3 left. We couldn't figure out what was happening to the eggs. The pen we have for our ducks, is very predator proof, as we have the chicken wire buried 6" down under the ground. There was no evidence of egg shells, nothing, they just vanished. So we were kinda wondering if the drake or the younger hen was eating them. However, the drake was there when the older hen had her first clutch of eggs. Of the 3 eggs she was sitting on, only one of them hatched a duckling, and it died within 24 hours, we guess because she didn't take it to water, because she still had the 2 other eggs she continued to sit on, but they never hatched, and after we removed them, we found they were rotten inside, no ducklings inside. Then this year, our older drake laid 11 eggs in March 2018, and again her eggs started vanishing. She ended up with 2 eggs that she sat on, and when they were nearing the hatch date, we found one egg outside their shelter, and it had a hole in the side of the egg, and the duckling inside was dead, the other egg never developed into a duckling. So we asked ourselves, how did that egg get outside of the shelter, out of the nest. Our poor hen has laid several clutches of eggs and has nothing to show for it. The only variable from when she had the 20 ducklings in April of 2017, and her other clutches of eggs, is the addition of another young hen. Our younger hen is sitting on eggs presently, and we did find one egg in the trough. Now how did that get there? Do you think having two female ducks is the problem? Are they trying to get rid of each others eggs?

 

[Broodygranny]

It could be rats. We had a problem with vanishing chicken eggs a while back. Turned out to be rats. We got a terrier!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Then this year, our older drake laid 11 eggs in March 2018,

Just had to point that out.
Are the hens sharing the nest? Maybe the drake prefers one to the other? Muscovies are very good at hiding eggs from what I have heard.

 

[Lil Drake40]

I love the little zoomers. So cute

 

[Lil Drake40]

Sorry my phone is acting up wrong thread Very sorry about the eggs

 

[donpropst]

It could be rats. We had a problem with vanishing chicken eggs a while back. Turned out to be rats. We got a terrier!

Would the rats be able to get in through the chicken wire? We have the chicken wire buried 6" underground? I know mice can squeeze through small holes?

 

[donpropst]

Just had to point that out.
Are the hens sharing the nest? Maybe the drake prefers one to the other? Muscovies are very good at hiding eggs from what I have heard.

LOL, I have a special duck if a drake can lay eggs.

 

[donpropst]

Just had to point that out.
Are the hens sharing the nest? Maybe the drake prefers one to the other? Muscovies are very good at hiding eggs from what I have heard.

The older hen has a nest box in one corner, and the younger hen laid her eggs in the other nest box in the opposite corner. I did catch the older hen the other day over at the younger hen's nest when the young hen went off the nest to get a drink and stretch her legs. Some of the young hen's egg have disappeared too.

 

[Lil Drake40]

Rats mink weasel canallget throughchicken wire only thing it’s good for is keeping our birds in

 

[True Patriot]

Most members of the rodent family only need a hole big enough for their heads. Chances are if you can fit your thumb a rat can fit. 1/2 inch mesh wire or smaller is the only thing I can think of to stop them. Not always 100% effective but will help. They are also proficient climbers, don't forget to look up for possible entry points.