Mother mallard hatched duckling under den with a rat

[Mr.persablesdan]

Our mother Mallard has a nest under the den that is outside. We have been trying to fight a rat away we boarded up all edges and everything else but he has tunnels everywhere. Last night we realize she had her ducklings. The rat had already taken one she had six in all. We ended up taking the 5 in the house. She has three more eggs two are about a week out in one is very close to hatching. I am wondering if you think she will abandon the nest and also if we did the correct thing. we would have had to do something anyways do to Hawks Ravens owls in the rat. Thank you

 

[Quackers3211]

I would find away to kill the rat. You don’t want him on your property anyways because he carries disease,will chew stuff up and is now a danger to your animals. I think you made the right choice if that was the only way to keep them safe. I would set up a makeshift covered pen for her because mother ducks can get very attached to her babies and taking them away from her can really upset her. She worked hard to hatch them so she should at least get some time with them to teach them some ducky skills. Best of luck post pictures of the babies and keep us updated.

 

[Mr.persablesdan]

definitely trying to get that nasty critter. Can it give the ducks diseases? If so I didn't know. Also what signs would show the ducks have the illness. Even tho we took the babies she would except them if we put them together?thank u

 

[Howard E]

"THE" rat? As in only one?

If you have tunnels, more likely you have dozens of rats at the very least.

If so, do what you can to protect momma and the kids and then get busy on the rats (plural). That is a tough job and gonna be a whole lot of work on your part.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

I would get a special, secure pen for mama and babies. Rats are awful to deal with and you are going to need to do a lot of eradication. You can try live traps, but if you have tunnels you may have a whole colony in there! If you put poison out, make sure it is NOT anywhere the ducks can find it! If you want, bring mama in with the babies and keep them in a bathroom until you can make a secure outside area. Do you have an incubator? You may want to try hatching the other two so mom can devote her attention to her quintuplets. I would still move them all! Don't separate mom from babies; the moms will go crazy with heartbreak!

 

[Quackers3211]

Also she should still accept them, I’ve had to separate before for a few days and she took them back. It was a happy reunion.

 

[Conan]

I found the best way to deal with tunneling rats is to shove a hose in the main rat hole and turn it on full blast. Station yourself and anyone willing to help (dogs included) near any additional holes you can see with whatever you can to kill them. I know it sounds kinda gnarly, but it works. We've successfully eradicated the rats near our coop using this method.