My Mallard duck is the best Momma duck I have ever had. She will brood a nest of ducklings and take care of them until they can be on their own. I just found her nest today and she had 6 eggs hid in it. I got them though as I have ordered two Call Ducklings from Metzer to come next month. I don't need any ducklings from her at this point even though I have a beautiful new drake and the eggs were fertile. She puts out drakes though so no need to have a bunch of them hatch out.