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Not sure if any one can help me on this one but here goes. I have a pair of ducks the male is a Muscovey and the female is a white domesticated duck that looks like an Indian runner cross. She is currently sitting on 12 eggs but continues to push some (3) out from the nest and I am curious as to why? I have placed them back a couple of times but have decided to leave them now as I do not want to interfere with nature and obviously she knows what she is doing! :-) Secondly this morning I found one a few meters from the nest eaten and am also wondering what predator would of done this so I can prevent any more from being eaten. I live in Australia in Northern New South Wales. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks :-)
Optional Information: Age: 2; Female; Breed: Male Muscovey Female DomesticaAlready Tried: Placing eggs back under
Hello,
The female Duck may sense that the eggs are infertile and may be pushing the eggs out due to the fact she senses something is wrong with those eggs. You can try using an Incubator to see if they will hatch for you. They are fairly reasonable and can be purchased online. The answer to your second question of what may be stealing the eggs is a Monitor lizard is known for an appetite for eggs. I imagine that is what may be stealing the eggs. It will be hard to keep the eggs safe if it is a monitor raiding the eggs. They can burrow as well as do some climbing. I am including a site for incubators, incase yo decide to try and incubate the eggs on your own. Joan
http://www.poultrysupply.com/
Experience: Vet Tech for 30+yrs. Small Animals and Fish
Thank you so much! I have been lucky in regards XXXXX XXXXX etc where I live so my ducks and chickens are free roaming. My chickens however spend the nights in a pen but the ducks refuse to so her nest is in my garden. So I assume nothing can be done but to keep my eye on them? What time of day are the lizards likely to steal the eggs? I will leave the eggs that are kicked out where they are as hopefully the lizard may eat them instead! Also my broody hens are sitting on about 8 duck eggs each will they hatch and could you give me any advice on that also? Thank you! :-)
Monitors may be active during the early morning and later afternoon, but if hunger driven and they know where to find one of their favorite foods it is hard to say if it is just one or more that is raiding the nest. Your Hens may be the proud mothers of some ducklings. It is a wait and see issue of what will hatch. I would make sure to have all the grain and Crushed Coral (calcium) available for all the hens and chicks as well as the ducklings. Joan
Would a monitor lizard leave the cracked shell? Thanks again for the advice and answer it is the best I have received on here so far! :-)
Thank-you for the accept and compliment. Yes Monitors depending on their size what the situation is like will crack the egg to eat it and sometimes their jaws will not allow them to swallow the egg whole. It will crack while trying to eat the whole egg leaving shell behind. I am assuming this is not a full grown lizard. It may be a young one. I would keep a close eye on the chicks and duckings when hatched, since they may be a prime entre for dinner for a Monitor. Joan