my duck and her eggs are gone!

[saryahj]

Hi, My duck Oreo has a nest with 11 eggs she has been sitting on. This morning, her and her eggs are all gone as if she never had a nest there. There aren't any feathers or evidence of a scuffle, so I am praying she moved her nest before the severe weather came yesterday. Is this possible? I am new to raising ducks so I am hopeful her and her eggs are somewhere else safe. Also, my dogs did not bark once last night or the night before so if a predator came, they would have sounded the alarm. Thanks yall!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where was the nest? Ducks don't move nests. On occasion they may be able to roll them a ways off, but not somewhere too far.

 

[saryahj]

it was in the woods,not too far in. but she was protected by thorns and apparently one of my metal things that went around my plants had rolled into the woods and she was using that as protection as well. I hope she's ok. I didn't see any place where close but I will look again. It looks as if the nest was never there, its so strange! thanks for your reply!

 

[Backroadlogic]

Realistically she and the eggs were probably eaten. I've had nests get eaten 100% no shells left or anything. Duck could have ran scared.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately I would think a predator got her. I've had muscovy go missing without a trace. Generally fox or coyote. Than the eggs got taken. A fox will bury them for later consumption. I hope I'm wrong and you find her, and only the eggs got taken. She may be hiding. If you don't see her in a few days, than you may never.

 

[saryahj]

Realistically she and the eggs were probably eaten. I've had nests get eaten 100% no shells left or anything. Duck could have ran scared.

Wouldn't there be evidence like feathers or something? I don't understand why my dogs didn't bark.. it does appear that the thorns have been ripped apart but we did have that bad weather yesterday. No tornadoes, but a storm with lots of wind

 

[saryahj]

Unfortunately I would think a predator got her. I've had muscovy go missing without a trace. Generally fox or coyote. Than the eggs got taken. A fox will bury them for later consumption. I hope I'm wrong and you find her, and only the eggs got taken. She may be hiding. If you don't see her in a few days, than you may never.

We do have coyotes, about a month ago I lost all my chickens due to them, about 30. But why didn't my dogs bark? They always bark at other animals on the property and they are outside all night for alarm and guarding. Then I go out with my shotgun and scare off the predators. I pray nothing happened to her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wouldn't there be evidence like feathers or something? I don't understand why my dogs didn't bark.. it does appear that the thorns have been ripped apart but we did have that bad weather yesterday. No tornadoes, but a storm with lots of wind

There isn't always feathers. Fox are very good at what they do. Coyote generally are clumsy. I would do a perimeter search. Sometimes there's feather as the predator adjusts it's grip. Hopefully she's hiding somewhere.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We do have coyotes, about a month ago I lost all my chickens due to them, about 30. But why didn't my dogs bark? They always bark at other animals on the property and they are outside all night for alarm and guarding. Then I go out with my shotgun and scare off the predators. I pray nothing happened to her.

There's not always noise, and if the wind is blowing the scent away from the dogs they might not even know. Fox will leave behind a scent similar to skunk, but very mild. It's something I've learned unfortunately.

 

[saryahj]

I went out and looked around, I didn't see anything but thanks for the information! So I saw earlier the thorns were apart but just now I went out and it looks like they were perfectly cut like by scissors or something and my metal thingy is nowhere to be found. No people come on this property and if they did, they would be attacked by my dogs and I would definitely hear that as her nest was semi close to my bedroom window and I am a light sleeper. What do you make of the thorns though? It appears she is gone but I will continue to look for her.