social

Mallard Duck Laid Eggs

March 19, 2007

Mallard Duck Tending Nest of EggsMallard ducks have laid 2 eggs but the female and male both just left them there. What do I do?

Chris

Advertisement

Answers

March 21, 20070 found this helpful
Best Answer

Hi, Chris. I believe that the ducks will lay their eggs one at a time & then when there is about a dozen they will set on them to begin the incubation process, this way they will all hatch at the same time.

I have hand raised mallard chicks a few time, the kids incubated them in school, and then they came to my house. They are great fun, as they will imprint on you, follow you all over the yard, like you are the mama. They would even come down the street with me when I brought the kids to the bus stop in the fall. lol Then in the fall they fly away with the rest of the ducks. I have a female who has been coming back for years to my yard to lay her eggs each spring.

Trish in CT

 
By ROXY (Guest Post)
May 10, 20071 found this helpful
Best Answer

A duck has laid at least 6 eggs at the base of a boxwood bush that is elevated in a planter. She didn't appear to be sitting on the nest for the last 2 days, but suddenly this morning she is sitting on the nest.

Advertisement

I thought she'd abandoned the nest, but now I realize she wants to all hatch at the same time. Glad I didn't touch any of the eggs!

 
Answer this Question

May 21, 2021

A Mallard duck built a nest in the bush of my front yard. Four ducklings were hatched yesterday, and the mother duck and the four ducklings left their nest this morning. However, there are still two unhatched eggs in the nest. Will the mother duck come back to incubate these two eggs again?Two eggs left in a duck's nest.

 

If not, what should I do with them?

Should I continue incubating until they are hatched? Also, why this mother duck only had a clutch of 6 eggs, while typically it should be around a dozen?

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts
May 23, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

If the mother duck has left with her ducklings and not returned in a couple of days, the eggs will probably not hatch. Sometimes, ducks aren't good at parenting, especially if this is the mother duck's first time raising little ones.

Advertisement

Another possibility is that the mother duck knew that for a variety of reasons the other eggs weren't going to hatch.

 

Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 425 Answers
May 23, 20212 found this helpful
Best Answer

Nature has given critters a "sixth sense" so to speak. Whether bird eggs not going to hatch, a deformed or sickly kitten or puppy, or any other species' young, the mother seems to know when her young are not going to make it. In the case of the duck walking away with ducklings that DID hatch, she knew the other eggs were bad, so deserted them. She won't be back. As for the abandoned eggs, you can leave them and nature will take care of them - raccoons, skunks, other birds, something will eat them, as it's nature's way. Feel good about the four that hatched !!!

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
May 24, 20211 found this helpful
Best Answer

Most likely the mother will not return but you cannot be sure so do not disturb (even touch) the area or eggs for at least another week just in case the mother returns.

Advertisement


You can always call or email the Wildlife Center for information about what to do.
Here is contact information:
Contact
(540) 942-9453
wildlife@wildlifecenter.org
For more advice on specific duck nesting situations, call us at 540-942-9453.

These links offer information about how to handle situations like this and also has a YouTube video.
www.wildlifecenter.org/mallard-duck-nests

www.thriftyfun.com/Abandoned-Duck-Nest.html

 
Answer this Question

March 12, 2021

Mallard duck laid egg on concrete. Is this normal? She hasn't made a nest yet. The egg is now cold.

A duck egg on the sidewalk.
 

Answers


Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
March 12, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

This happens all the time. While it really pains me to say this, you should let nature take its course and leave the egg be to see if she comes back for it (which she won't in all likelihood). They seem to know if an egg is not viable and leave it.

Advertisement

If you can't leave it, call a wild life refuge and see if they will pick it up and incubate it. They will ask lots and lots of questions and give you the best guidance based on how long it has been there and what you see.

Very sad.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
March 12, 20210 found this helpful
Best Answer

This egg would have to be warm to survive. It looks like the mother has left the egg, often when they leave they do not return. This mother duck has her reasons . The egg may not be a good one, and was left behind because of it. It happens. Here is answers from this site on the same question - www.thriftyfun.com/caring-for-duck-eggs.html

 
Answer this Question

June 18, 2022

I went to pull weeds on side of my office building and found a duck sitting on a nest with 7 eggs. The nearest body of water is 2 blocks away across a busy street so I have no idea how she wound up there. I purchased duck pellets and put them out in a dish but she's not eating. She did eat some bread scraps the other day.

I don't know if it's just the mother sitting on the eggs. We tried putting out a dish of water, cause at times it seems so hot when the sun hits there that she is panting a bit. She's not drinking our water either. We have not touched the nest or eggs, but we are worried the duck and/or ducklings will die. Animal control won't help until the eggs hatch.

She's been there about a week. She left once and the eggs were gone but we realize that she must have buried them because now she's back sitting on the nest and the eggs are there. I am so worried that if they do hatch, that the duck and ducklings will get hit by a car trying to make it across the busy street. Can anyone offer any advice?

Answers


Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
June 21, 20220 found this helpful
Best Answer

The mother has chosen this spot for reasons that only she knows and will probably try to stay in that spot until her eggs hatch. the eggs are laid 1 or 2 days apart and they will hatch in the same manner so she will be with the ducklings for several days after the first egg hatches. The ducklings will also have to gain strength before leaving the nest so if you keep track of when the eggs start to hatch you will have plenty of time to contact the wildlife agency in your area.

Advertisement

You can always leave water for her but she may not want any human contact and will not drink it.
As to food, that is probably not a good idea and leftover food could attract other animals and they may do her or her eggs harm.
You can always call the wildlife agency and ask about what you can or should do or not do.

 
Answer this Question

July 26, 2022

A mallard laid 10 eggs in my yard. She has been sitting on them for almost a month, leaving a short period of time in the morning and again early evening. This morning, 1 of the eggs was approximately 6 feet away from the nest. We have Muscovy ducks in the neighborhood that frequent our yard, including mother, father, and 3 ducklings. A Mallard egg in the grass.

 

Today they have been approaching the nest, at times laying within 3 feet, while mother mallard is there. She doesn't run them away. I have read Muscovy females are very motherly. Why would they be so close now? Would they remove the eggs when mother mallard is away, or is mother removing the egg if she knows it is not viable?

A mallard egg in the grass.
 
A mallard nest near the house.
 

Answers

July 30, 20220 found this helpful
Best Answer

There is a pre-incubation period: female ducks can lay their eggs for up to 10 days before incubation begins. So, a Mallard duck will need up to 40 days to hatch successfully (incubation period 23-30 days + pre-incubation period 10 days). A duck will unknowingly continue to sit on the eggs until she is convinced that they are not going to hatch, often well beyond the average incubation days.

Migratory birds are protected. You are not allowed to remove the migratory duck eggs for any reason. Contact your local wildlife organization. farmhouseguide.com/.../

 
Answer this Question

June 1, 2017

We had a mallard who laid eggs in the front of our house. We noticed her sitting on them for 2 weeks.

She is now gone and so are the eggs. There is no sign of cracked eggs anywhere. What happened?

Read More Answers

April 26, 2017

A mallard hen laid eggs in my yard. She seems to be sitting on them and incubating them now. Should I provide anything for her? She already has my little dog trained to stay away :-)


Answers

Anonymous
April 26, 20170 found this helpful

OMG that is super cute!!!!!!!

I have to imagine that what she most wants is to be left alone, because being approached by you (or the dog) for anything will most likely spook her

I also would think that she can take care of herself in regards to food, water, etc and any approach to help her will be misinterpreted

 
Read More Answers

April 27, 2017

A female has laid 10 eggs, she returned this morning to see 1 broken out of nest and one moved from nest and then flew away. Will she return to finish nesting?


Read More Answers

May 24, 2017

I noticed a mallard duck nesting next to my front door. I went to put up some signs to tell people not to use the front door and she got up and she flew away. She has seven eggs in her nest.

She left yesterday at 3 o'clock and now it is the next day at 7 AM and she still not back. What can I do for the eggs and who can I call to help? And will she come back?

Mallard Duck Left Nest - duck nest with eggs
 
Read More Answers
<< First< PreviousNext >
In This Page
Categories
Pets DucksJune 2, 2016
Pages
More
🌻
Gardening
🐰
Easter Ideas!
👒
Mother's Day Ideas!
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-03-29 00:39:58 in 8 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Mallard-Duck-Laid-Eggs.html