Help? Duck nest by our pool!

[aschrimp]

I've been chasing a pair of wild mallards out of my pool routinely for a couple weeks. Today I went out to clean it, and the female duck startled out of some bushes near the pool. I went and looked, and sure enough, there is a nest in there with 12 eggs.

What do I do? Ducklings would destroy our pool, for sure!

Do ducks go broody the same as chickens? I don't think she's been back there incubating the nest all day - they have been spending a fair amount of time up at our pond, too (where I wouldn't mind ducklings, but she apparently seems to like the pool better). Obviously, if I moved the eggs up to the pond, she'd never find the new nest. But what if I moved the ducklings right after they hatched?

Am I even *allowed* to do anything? I know that there are rules for interfering with wild mallard ducks...just not sure what they are.

 

[sourland]

Allow her to incubate where she has nested and then move the family to your pond. Mom may have intentions of doing that on her own.

 

[aschrimp]

There is a solid fence between the pool and pond (two of them, actually), so I doubt she plans to move them herself. I'd have to catch the babies to move them. Are they going to be "catchable" without traumatizing them/the wild mother duck? How soon will they start swimming?

 

[Miss Lydia]

There is a solid fence between the pool and pond (two of them, actually), so I doubt she plans to move them herself. I'd have to catch the babies to move them. Are they going to be "catchable" without traumatizing them/the wild mother duck? How soon will they start swimming?

I'd think the best time would be right when they hatch and at night. you'll probably have to have help, flash light and somekind of container with lid to transfer them to their new home. a basket with a towel draped over the top would probably work. Hope it works out for them and you have your plan already worked out where you plan to put them up at your pond where they will be safe from preds.

Hopefully someone else may have a better plan.

 

[Mike Winters]

well technically wild ducks are just has protected as hawks so technically you have to deal with it

 

[aschrimp]

Yeah, we will have to set up a predator safe area for them. Our predators here are mainly coyote and hawks. We were already in the process of fencing the pond to keep the kids out of it, so that will help with the coyote. I don't think I *can* keep them safe from hawks - they have to be able to fly out themselves. Should I build them a covered nest box area or something, near the pond? There isn't as much tall grass, and there are no bushes there, so there really aren't any good natural nightime sleeping areas.

I'd think the best time would be right when they hatch and at night. you'll probably have to have help, flash light and somekind of container with lid to transfer them to their new home. a basket with a towel draped over the top would probably work. Hope it works out for them and you have your plan already worked out where you plan to put them up at your pond where they will be safe from preds.

Hopefully someone else may have a better plan.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, we will have to set up a predator safe area for them. Our predators here are mainly coyote and hawks. We were already in the process of fencing the pond to keep the kids out of it, so that will help with the coyote. I don't think I *can* keep them safe from hawks - they have to be able to fly out themselves. Should I build them a covered nest box area or something, near the pond? There isn't as much tall grass, and there are no bushes there, so there really aren't any good natural nightime sleeping areas.

thats probably why she isn't nesting there and chose your pool area. once the duckling hatch she'll have them on the water, but they need places to hide and it doesn't sound like your pond is going to be ideal, you might try calling around and see if you have any wild life rehabbers in your area, they maybe able to help you figure out what is best.

 

[aschrimp]

Yeah, I am going to call someone tomorrow actually and see if they have any ideas.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah, I am going to call someone tomorrow actually and see if they have any ideas.

Please post back and let us know what you decide to do. thanks

 

[aschrimp]

I will. It looks to me like she isn't actually sitting on the nest yet...so we've probably got at least a month to figure out what to do. If I don't mow around the pond for that whole time, it might be much more duck friendly by the time that there are actually babies running around.