docsquid Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 We have acquired a wild duck's nest (mallard) near one of our ponds, and she has 8 eggs. I hadn't seen her for about 8 days, only the drake, and assumed she'd stood him up and moved on, but this is clearly not the case! I inadvertently disturbed her when I was checking the pond plants, but she returned quickly to the nest under the tender supervision of the drake, who was hanging about nearby. I'm so excited! I wondered how long they incubate, so I can hopefully catch some photos of the little ducklings when they hatch and while they are all cute, fluffy and tiny! How many days do they take to hatch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Ooh They take 28 days to hatch Good luck Might want to watch there are no foxes etc that can get to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted April 13, 2010 Author Share Posted April 13, 2010 'Fraid we do have foxes. The nest is extremely well camouflaged - I nearly trod on it by mistake! I hope that Mrs Duck will be sensible and keep the little ones safe and close by her. 28 days! That means about 18 days from now, if I'm right about when Mrs Duck started sitting. Excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Will be a couple of days younger than the chicks then + you should be back to see them hatch Look forward to the photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 So am I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 'Fraid we do have foxes. The nest is extremely well camouflaged - I nearly trod on it by mistake! I hope that Mrs Duck will be sensible and keep the little ones safe and close by her. I nearly stuck a fork through a mallard nest in my front flower bed right by the front door a few years back...they were so well camouflaged..the eggs are really well buried in the down. We had 15 and they all survived into adulthood (unheard of really..the most I have known). The mum sits so still not even a flinch,they seem to like the base of bushes dead leaves etc they seem to be gone from the nest for quite some time and I often worried the eggs would get cold or she had abandoned them but usually they come back. Lucky you, very exciting times good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
