Something weird is happening with Izzy's eggs...Update pg.2

[aduckstolemyheart]

Well, Izzy has been on a nest of 12 eggs since March 31st. This week we noticed she is down to 4 eggs, and I have no clue where the other 8 went. Today we went out and found a broken, bloody shell in the middle of the yard. By it was a bloody yolk and a duckling, dead. Obviously not ready to hatch yet. It had feathers, and was formed, but was obviously early. Ya know?

Thing is, this egg was out of the coop and 20 feet away in the grass. How did it get that far?? No evidence of trauma (not eaten, no bugs, etc.) and I am really confused!

What is happening here??

There appears to be at least 3 or 4 eggs left (they're half buried so it's hard to tell) in her nest. She is still sitting on them. It is pouring outside, and quite chilly, and I am worried about the remainder of the eggs. I bought a new dog run for her and the ducklings, but am now afraid to move the nest. but her nest is getting muddy, and I know they need a nice, dry place to hatch, away from the flock. is it safe to move the rest into her new home, and will she keep sitting??

Need some guidance here, I have no idea what's going on or what to do!

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Emmalion]

I would try and giver her a secure area of her own. It sounds like something is stealing the eggs from her. Maybe a large dog crate or an unsused bathroom But get her somewhere safe to hatch them babies.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I wonder what could be taking them?

She's always on the nest, except when she comes out to eat, or forage for 30 minutes. No holes or gaps in the wire of their pen, and none of the ducks have seemed worried, at all.

We have a new dog run, that we will be putting up either today or tomorrow (it's raining a lot here so it depends on weather). We have a dog crate we can put inside for her, and I am trying to get a dogloo from Craigslist which I think would be best. At the very least I was going to build a shelter in there with tons of hay for her to hatch. This sound ok? I will have to wrap the run in wire because it's chain link, but I think it should be pretty secure. Run is 10'x5'x6'.

 

[gofasterstripe]

Do you have chickens, Ive seen chickens pack and egg and run iwth it to break it open and eat it...Mink, weasles or ferret, what ever you call them over there, might be 1 of them. Do you have an incubator you can put them in and hatch out yourself.
I wish I could be more help and if I lived closer I would bring you my bator.

 

[Emmalion]

That dog run sounds great Is there anyway to get a dog crate in where she is now and lock her up until you get the run built. But I agree something is stealing the eggs so you better act quick

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

No chickens here, just the ducks. The baby was untouched. No marks, and it was not eaten. Even the yolk was there, untouched. What ever it was, it did not eat the egg. The other 7 are still just missing. We buried the poor thing. It was so cute too!

No bator yet.

We had decided to let her hatch, since she was such a dedicated mom so far. I would buy a bator, but I just spent my last bit of funds buying the dog run for her. No extra money right now, as I am 6 months pregnant, and this pregnancy has been really complicated. I spend most of every week going to specialists, so it's been very hard on our finances.

Would giving her her own area (the dog run) help?

 

[Emmalion]

It will keep her secure until they hatch. Sounds like either another duck or some other animal is taking the eggs. It may be been disappointed to find the egg wasn't as yummy as they thought it was and left it.

 

[Break an Egg]

Sounds like it could be something taking the eggs at night for food, I would suspect a possum.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Would a mink or weasel take eggs but not harm the duck? We don't have them here, so i don't know.

aduckstolemyheart, what other pets do you have? What types of predators are in your area? Also, is it possible that a kid is getting into the nest and throwing the eggs for sport?

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I have a medium sized dog crate that I used to transport ducks to the vet, etc. It isn't very big, but I could put her in it. Their pen has always been secure, and I see no breeches, that would indicate a predator, unless it is sneaking in through the open door during the day while she is gone eating. It's also really weird because our other duck has a nest that she does not sit on, that has about 12 eggs in it. Those are undisturbed, it seems like it is only going after the fertile ones.