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Momma duck had been nesting next to my house for the past few weeks, and I noticed about 10 eggs recently, so I was expecting them to hatch anytime soon. Sure enough, this morning I went out and noticed some cracked eggs, so I figured the babies hatched. Strangely, I didn't see any babies, but Mom and Dad were casually eating grass on my front lawn.
Does anyone have any guesses as to what became of the ducklings? The shells were completely empty and clean, so it doesn't appear that they died. And the nest was neat and didn't appear that a struggle from a predator occurred. So, I'm perplexed as to what became of the little ones? Any ideas? Thanks.
I am thinking a predator got to the eggs and ate all the contents clean.
Is it possible someone (human) was messing around, destroyed the eggs, took the ducklings to over their tracks, then the clean up crew (rats, mice, ants, squirrels) cleaned out the shells that were left around/
I would think if it was a fox or a bigger bird, would have taken the ducks AND the eggs. Food is food and like you said, no sign of a struggle is suspicious.
Post back if you figure it out. Very sad.
We have a pool and last Friday a male and female decided to visit. We found an egg on Saturday on our cement. They continue to come back every morning for a dip and then they sit in the sun for about an hour. Then we do not see them until the next morning, other than the female coming in for a few minutes 1 evening.
I had to move the egg about 20 feet for safety. They still go by the egg and have moved it a few times maybe a foot or so. What is everyone thoughts?I think the egg will hatch. If you moved it, they would smell you on it, and they do not seem to think you are a predator. If they did, they would have abandoned it.
My husband was pruning back a bush and uncovered 5 duck eggs. I was too late to stop him. We didn't disturb them, but the bush is gone. Will Mama duck come back?
She may not be back since she may think a predator came by.
Last year we had a mallard duck that laid eggs and sat on them for a couple of weeks. After she did not sit on them for a few days, we discovered 2 eggs left in the nest, but the rest were gone. There were no egg shells like something had taken them out of the nest. The two remaining eggs did not hatch.
We do have opossums, raccoons, and fox around so it may have been one of them. She is back again this week (Indiana) which I find strange because something took her eggs last year. 1st question - Why would she make the nest in the same spot if something ate her eggs last year. 2nd question - What can I do protect them this year?
You could build a little house-type structure around the eggs. If something disturbs her, she may agandon them again.
A mallard duck laid her egg on the ledge of my above ground pool, which is 5ft tall with rocks around the base. I find this very odd, what do I do?
Might not hurt to leave it alone? If you move it, the mother might not know where it went, right? If you want to put something around it to protect it from falling, why not consult a local zoo or perhaps a college where they might have experts who can address your concerns?
If a predator got the first eggs in nest (8) will mother return to lay more?
By Barbara
Yes, but the predator remembers where it found the eggs and will return. It is most likely a raccoon or an opossum or possibly a big rat!
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I have been feeding two mallard ducks (male and female) for a long time, and my female (named Peepers) just laid eggs. She has six so far, but I'm worried because she only goes to the nest to lay a new egg every night.
