I just found a nest FULL of duck eggs in my suburban garden

[Siwsan]

Twice a duck and I have mutually startled the beejeebus out of each other, when I walked past my side garden. Today I found out why.

I guess my best course of action is to try and avoid that part of the garden, as much as possible, hoping that the ducklings will hatch. Strange, though, there is no body of water anywhere near me. I'm in the middle of a subdivision!!

Any advice?

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. You are doing exactly the right thing by avoiding the nest and the mama.

She knows what she is doing. I hope raccoons aren't a big deal in your neighborhood because they can destroy nests. Should take about 28 days to hatch. Ducks will nest just about anywhere they perceive is safe and then lead the babies to water.

[Siwsan]

7. If I'm very careful I might be able to keep an eye on her from the sun room window

Raccoons aren't an issue but I do see the occasional woodchuck.

I'm not sure how long the nest has been there, but I first noticed the duck about a week ago.

If they hatch, I'll try to find some sort of low kid's pool. There is absolutely no body of water anywhere around here!

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Sounds like a plan, and they should hatch.

Long ago when I was in elementary school, a mama duck chose a bush outside our 3rd grade classroom to lay her eggs. It was such a fun living science lesson!

[cwydro]

14. I have ducks. Your advice is perfect!

Ducklings are adorable!

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. They really are, with those perfect little bills and feet!

[Aerows]

39. They are just precious!

and I agree with you, that is good advice.

[itsrobert]

18. Raccoons have to eat too.

Nature.

[Kip Humphrey]

2. Ducks have been known to avail themselves of nearby inflatable kiddie pools where local water

sources are scarce. They will use such small bodies of water to introduce their chicks to water.

[Faux pas]

3. That is cool.

I know nothing about ducks. Maybe put out a wading pool?

[shrike]

4. The duck should be just fine

Ducks nest in all kinds of places. One woman in our neighborhood had a duck sitting on eggs under the bush right next to her back door. Duck stayed there until they hatched. Then, as she started to take the ducklings away so they could get to water, the whole brood other than Momma fell into a utility trench. Fortunately it wasn't very deep and an animal control officer was able to get them all over uninjured while Momma waited. She just stood there and waited for all the ducklings to come out, then out they went.

Where the water was, I don't know, but they have great instincts.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. Be sure you give plenty of time to hatch.

Some duck eggs take longer than 21 days.

[Warpy]

28. And it's unlikely they were all laid at once.

I'd point out duck eggs are just as good as hen's eggs, but there's no way to tell how long each egg has been there and your hard boiled duck egg could turn out to be balut.

Besides, it's going to be fun watching Mama Duck lead the parade of ducklings around the yard.

[oldandhappy]

6. Beautiful!

How special. You are chosen! I send good thoughts for a splendid hatching. I am thrilled for you. How exciting.

[democrank]

8. Enjoy the show!

Nature is surely fascinating.

[FlatBaroque]

9. Collect some rent

I'm the form of quackers.

And continue to be blessed.

[shenmue]

10. We had Muscovy duckies hatch a few times

The bebehs looked like teeny tiny puffballs!

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Soufflé time !

[Liberal_in_LA]

49. Noooooooo! Lol

[womanofthehills]

12. Sweet

My friend has wild chickens - they roam her whole neighborhood. Recent babies -

[haikugal]

16. How lovely. Try to leave her in peace. Let the grass grow until they hatch.

She will walk them to the water...she knows where it is and there must be some around you somewhere. We've had a hen and all her babies stop traffic as she walks them to the stream and it's not a short distance.

Love ducks! Lucky you.

[Omaha Steve]

17. Once they hatch we need a photo to ID what kind they are

Back in the winter of 90 we kept abandoned baby ducks through the winter. The Missouri River had flooded that year. These were late hatchers because of the flood. The kids had a blast and we released them in the spring.

OS

[itsrobert]

19. I'm in surburbia

And we have rabbits roaming are front yard. and down the neighborhood. We live across a wildlife preservation area.

[Siwsan]

23. I've always had lots of rabbits. Even some deer, one morning

There is a big wooded area, just north of me, so we still have some wild life roaming the streets. I'm trying to figure out where the nearest substantial body of water is located. Maybe I'll be calling in an animal rescue group to relocate the family, once they hatch.

[blm]

26. Good idea. Transporting correctly will be key.

.

[Codeine]

36. We have peacocks and peahens roaming the neighborhood.

Beautiful but LOUD!

[malaise]

20. Very cool

Rec

[2pooped2pop]

21. leave em alone

once she starts sitting regularly on them, it will take 3 weeks to hatch. Might want to put some water out for her that she can get her whole head into.

[Siwsan]

29. Will do - before she comes back!

Last year was full of losses, for me, but this year started on with a birth, and new life seems to be the theme for my 2016.

It's very refreshing.

[2pooped2pop]

31. thats cool

you gotta take your signs when you see them.

[rocktivity]

22. For your future reference

rocktivity

[Siwsan]

24. Now THAT is a grand idea!!

But somehow I think the wading pool is a little bit more to my budget and lifestyle.

[blm]

25. Get a kiddie pool and fill with water or collect rainwater…fewer chemicals

in water by the time she leads them there. No lake or creek nearby?

[LyndaG]

27. Sweet!

Nature is a joy to observe.

[Mary Mac]

30. it was my favorite Modern Family episode.

Nt.

[Old Crow]

32. Don't be disheartened if only a few--or none--of the eggs hatch.

I had this happen beneath a bush at the front of my porch. I'm about an 1/8 mile away from any water, so it was puzzling. What I learned is that ducks do not lay their eggs beside the water. They lay them in a nest at some distance from the water, then lead the hatchlings on a march to the water. This results in a higher survival rate due to the risks of egg predation and nest flooding down by the water's edge. But even far from water, the eggs' chances are slim: raccoons, foxes, snakes, cats, possums, dogs, bears, crows, you name it, all have duck eggs on their menu of favorite treats. Consequently, *most* nests of duck eggs do not survive long enough for the eggs to hatch.

That seems wrong, but think of it this way: If most of the eggs laid by ducks hatched, the world would be positively overrun by ducks in short order.

So if your mama duck is able to beat the odds and hatch some ducklings, that will be awesome. Unlikely, I'm afraid, but awesome. Just prepare yourself for the usual outcome. Alas, the nest by my porch never made it. Possum, I suspect.

Some other important advice that I forgot to add. Don't change anything around the nest location in an attempt to help the ducks. They chose that spot because they judged it offered the eggs a good chance of survival. Almost anything you do is likely to attract the attention of predators--such as placing out food for the ducks (a big mistake, which I'm sorry to say I made)--or frighten the ducks, who are particularly skittish when incubating eggs. The best possible thing you can do is keep away from the nest site as much as you can.

[Siwsan]

33. I'll just keep my fingers crossed

The nest is in a pretty protected spot, right by the house, but there could be critters that wander through, at night, that I have no idea are in the area. I know there are a few feral cats, from time to time.

[Old Crow]

34. Best of luck!

I hope to see a happy update in the coming weeks.

[7wo7rees]

35. Lucky you! Heed all advice being given. Can't wait to see

pics of a positive outcome!

[Bayard]

37. My ducks do fine

My ducks do fine with their kiddie swimming pool. Just have to dump and refill regularly. We have a big rock in the pool, and one outside for easy getting in/out. What does the mom look like? Mallard?


Duck eggs are yummy!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

38. nice photo n/t

[barbtries]

40. a duck nested near my apartment a couple years ago

she lost the entire nest, to raccoons, foxes, hawks, who knows. but it was completely wiped out. i would try to think of a way to protect her, and maybe to provide water for her.

[Siwsan]

42. It's under an evergreen shrub so that should protect it from hawks

I know there is some sort of raptor, around here, because I keep finding carpets of feathers on the lawn. And the feral cat(s) that sometimes wander through are a concern.

I found a spare plastic litter box, I haven't used, so I filled that with well water and put it by the nest.

[barbtries]

47. i think that's great,

she won't have to go far from her eggs. keep us posted on the outcome, i hope it's good!

[DesertRat]

41. So very cool nt

[Baitball Blogger]

43. How can you be so sure they are duck eggs?

Could be raptor eggs! Or, at least rattlesnake eggs.

[ScreamingMeemie]

44. She says she has run into the duck + there is duck fluff lining the nest +

that is the typical size of a Mallard duck nest + that is the typical size of a Mallard clutch = 99.9% Duck nest probability.

[Siwsan]

45. I saw Mama Duck. Well, I startled Mama Duck, and she startled me!

This isn't the first Spring that I've found a duck, in my garden. But it is the first year I've found a nest.

[Calista241]

46. My advice is to take lots of pictures!

Enquiring minds want to see! 😀😀

[SwankyXomb]

48. I just found a sparrow nest on top of my window

Our neighbor's cat can stare at it for hours.