What to Do About Mother Mallard That Has Laid Eggs

By

YORKIEPOO

Call your local humane society so they can direct you to a wildlife organization. I would put a large box with and opening facing the opposite way the wind is coming in. Then lay a stone on top to prevent the wind from knocking it over, throw her toasted bread in there and if you can a bowl of water very close by. Do all of this until you can get help for her. Deby

By Grace (Guest Post)

We give our ducks about 3-4 cups of cracked corn a day, around sometime in the morning. But by the six o-clock they seem STARVED. They have they're beaks poking through the holes of the fence and quaking there beaks off. I go and get them some more corn and they chase me all the way to the food buckets and wrestle each other for the food! There are nine ducks and I am wondering if we need to feed them more or is this a normal reaction?

By Marie (Guest Post)

Every Year A Male And Female Mallard Return To My Covered Pool...This morning i discovered a lone egg on the concrete and momma seemed to show 0 intrest i put it in a basket of rabbit hay and bedding for warmth,i t remains outside though. What Should I Do?

Editor's Note: The egg may not be fertile. I'd just leave it where it is and see if she comes back to sit on it.

By Carmen (Guest Post)

Hi... I was raised on a farm in a rural area in Missouri... your best bet is to leave Momma alone. You might make some cracked corn, bird seed, or even a few scraps from your kitchen available to her. Just scatter them out in your yard. And maybe a large bowl of water. She will only leave the nest a time or two per day to get food and water then go back immediately to keep her eggs warm. Just try to disturb her as little as possible. She will set on these eggs approximately a month before they hatch. You might call the conservation department of your state also, they could give you some tips I'm sure. Good Luck!

By

ThriftyFun

Try not to disturb your sitting visitor. Too much attention could lead to the mother abandoning her nest. Dont worry about her eating or what she'll do when the eggs hatch. She knows what to do!

c.j.cox

By

leconte

Hello, sounds like you are going to have babies. I have a pond which attracks lots of nesting mamas. Do not feed them bread. It causes the stomach to expands and it can cause major issues when using the bathroom. They can even die because they cannot pass their fecuses. Then you have an even bigger issue of raising babies without a mama. I strongly suggest that you go to a local feed or grain store and purchase "duck food." It is a grain mixture that is more acceptable to their system. It is not expensive. Good luck and enjoy the babies.

By Kathy (Guest Post)

I would go ahead and see if the mother would want to eat any bread. I know when I had my ducks, they would eat bread and just loved it. I would just break the bread up into bite size pieces and toss them near her. I wish I could help you more but that is all of the information I can give to you. You can probably call a vet and get some advice also on how to handle the mother and soon to be babies.