Muscovy ducks

[jtfroglegs]

I have 2 female muscovy ducks and 1 male. They are wild, yet they come to my house everyday to eat the wild birdseed and forge for bugs. As sure as the sun rises they are in my yard. There is also mallard ducks that come 20 - 30 at a time. We live off the water. They go through a 35lb of wild birdseed a week. I go outside and sprinkle it on the ground all around the tree. I also bought them a kiddie pool to drink/swim in as the bird bath they keep trying to drink out of is not made for 16lbs of duck. They get in ok, then knock it over trying to get down. Then my little birds have nothing to drink. When I bring the bird seed out the mallards all fly away but the muscovy ducks wag there tails the mail hisses, they come within 5 inches of me. I love them sooo much. Well 3 weeks ago one of the females laid eggs. Each day another egg. Now there is 20 eggs. We have crows, osprey,blue heron that come in our yard daily. Im concerned about the eggs. My husband built a shelter over her nest so she is protected from the rain while she sits on the eggs. She loves it. I dont know what to do about her ducklings, which will hatch after 35 days. Please someone help me??? I cannot clip her wings. I dont want the crows to eat her ducklings. I have to protect her ducklings,I don't know how!!!! I am going crazy with worry for her.

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[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Sounds like you created a monster by feeding the wild birds more and more, providing water etc. I would advise you quit cold turkey and ONLY provide shelter and feed/water for the duck and her babies to come. The other birds will not starve, they have been mooching off of you and gotten lazy, they will start looking for natural sources of food and water and hopefully leave you alone. The fall migration will be starting and it is thought to be wild ducks, geese etc. that spread the deadly Avian Virus. You may recall millions of chickens, etc. were killed to prevent spreading disease - they caught from wildbirds- last year.

I'm sure you didn't mean to attract such large numbers but, that is what happens. Wild birds readily accept the easy way of getting food, and leaving tons of poo behind which can carry the deadly virus.

 

[jtfroglegs]

Sounds like you created a monster by feeding the wild birds more and more, providing water etc.   I would advise you quit cold turkey and ONLY  provide shelter and feed/water for the  duck and her babies to come.    The other birds will not starve, they have been mooching off of you and gotten lazy,  they will start looking for natural sources of food and water and hopefully leave you alone.  The fall migration will be starting and it is thought to be  wild ducks, geese etc. that spread the deadly Avian Virus.  You may recall millions of  chickens, etc.  were killed to prevent spreading disease - they caught from wildbirds- last year.

I'm sure you didn't mean to attract such large numbers but, that is what happens.  Wild birds readily  accept the easy way of getting food, and leaving tons of poo behind which can carry the deadly virus.

 

[jtfroglegs]

As I stated earlier I live on the water. Lots of wildlife here. Manatees, gators,dolphins,etc. All my neighbors feed the ducks as well. I have no problem quitting cold turkey and I had no idea I was doing anything wrong? I certainly dont want to spread any diseases. I need to protect mamma and her ducklings. Do I build a shelter and move the nest inside? She is sitting on the eggs for longer periods of time.
I wish she could talk so I can ask her what she needs. She is wild, yet so friendly. I am in over my head. Im so scared the crows are going to kill the ducklings as soon as they hatch. The crows are in the kiddie pool everyday. How do I feed only her and her friend, & the drake and make the other ducks go away??They are a set!!(the muscovies) they dont ever separate from each other unless she is on the nest then its just her friend and the drake sitting close by, waiting for mamma to come out of the nest and rejoin them.

 

[Anna verano]

I would build a enclosure for her and let her babies get big enough that the crows , and hawks can't get them .. I have the same problem where I live none of the babies are surviving they die within a week of hatching also avoid her taking the ducklings to the lake , the snapping turtles will devour them , and if you use the kiddie pool make sure to add some big rocks so the babies can climb out easily if not they could all drown in the kiddie pool and also wait until the ducklings are older before you let the drake around them , he could kill them to .. I hope the babies all do well they are the cutest babies ever ..

 

[007Sean]

Zombie thread, OP hasn't been seen since Sept. 13, 2015!

 

[sourland]

Zombie thread, OP hasn't been seen since Sept. 13, 2015!