Help needed - Vulnerable looking duck

[Viper]

Hi all.

We have all been on holiday for a fair while, and it seems a duck has decided to sort of nest in one of our big plant pots. The only problem is it doesnt move when we're outside, open the garage doors (its right next to them) or drive the cars around. It doesnt even seem to acknowledge us. I don't think it has moved for a couple of days either.

Any suggestions? Should I give it any food, pick it up and put it somewhere else or just put it out of its misery (12 bore)

 

[neil_g]

it might have eggs?

 

[8m32s]

I read that ducks like slugs and snails very much. Try tempting it maybe.... Have you politely asked it to duck off? If it hasn't moved though I'm guessing it's probably got some eggs underneath it, so it won't take kindly to being shoved on.

 

[Viper]

Yeh I thought it might have eggs, but thought it would have had to move to get food and water?

I haven't asked it to duck off, although I did say hi. lol

 

[david1701]

if it aint ill you could eat it?

 

[Viper]

we can only hope do you want some?

 

[terryuk]

mmmmmmmmmmm duck chow mein

 

[lawrie29]

Yeah stick some food out, and then whilst it is distracted, gently shove your nest cam camera under her to see what is happening....

 

[lawrie29]

Sorry, wrong snake related nickname, tis Ven who has the bird cam.

 

[kevshore]

Just put some water near it with some brown bread or maize flakes. At least it will get a chance to eat/drink if it is on eggs.
Maybe its mate is bringing food to it? I don't know if ducks do that.
But don't shoot/eat it. Ducks are one of my favourites. (Not food! lol)


Kev.

 

[OutLore]

What the Duck?

 

[AndrewA123]

If it's got eggs then breakfast's sorted

 

[Viper]

my dad went out to give it some wet bread.

about 8 eggs. That will make an awesome omelette

 

[lawrie29]

*** no piccie?

You do realise that you are now going to have to take full care of Jemima and her eggs, and then name them all and document the first few weeks in your back garden on here don't you?

I reckon you would get that story into your local rag if you wrote a small peice and took some shots, guaranteed way to get published.

when did w o t hit the swaery filter?

 

[Viper]

maybe 'what' would have worked

I don't do wild life photography... only wildlife thing I do is shoot it. Want me to do that :shrug:

 

[Rob_W]

Ahem, well.... Lol......... No...... I'd best not ...


.

 

[TheNissanMan]

*** no piccie?

You do realise that you are now going to have to take full care of Jemima and her eggs, and then name them all and document the first few weeks in your back garden on here don't you?

I reckon you would get that story into your local rag if you wrote a small peice and took some shots, guaranteed way to get published.

when did w o t hit the swaery filter?

Think the mods have added some txt speak into the filter

 

[minky_monkey]

What the Duck?

 

[minky_monkey]

You could try taking it under your wing..

 

[minky_monkey]

Perhaps it`s suffering from some sort of Mallardy....

 

[neil_g]

so its a mother ducker (to be)?

sorry..

 

[as-i-said]

shoot it

 

[wack61]

If it's sat still for 2 days it's definitely female

 

[Viper]

it still hasnt moved, although it has eaten some of the bread, and I put a bowl of water out for it now. lol

 

[kevshore]

Apparently Ducks do bring their mates food. Seen hubby around at all?

 

[john_s]

It just sits there? Not very eggciting!

 

[OutLore]

It may move if it sees you preparing some plum sauce and a stack of paper thin pancakes...

 

[Viper]

Apparently Ducks do bring their mates food. Seen hubby around at all?

not at all Dread to thing how long it has been sat there without food

I'll do the decent thing tomorrow and shoot it

 

[Splog]

not at all Dread to thing how long it has been sat there without food

I'll do the decent thing tomorrow and shoot it

Nah, Just leave it alone! .. I'm sure it knows what's best for itself

 

[david1701]

so have you cracked the hoisin yet

 

[neil_g]

im sure its not going to starve itself for the sake of its eggs..

 

[Viper]

my mum sent me this photo this morning

 

[Yv]

about bloody time, and why on earth you couldn't do it.... canon shooters, pah!

 

[Viper]

LOL

Because I left home (York) to go back up to uni (Newcastle) last night. They hatched this morning. little buggers...

I did get a photo of the mum before I went though, but I cba to put the pic on my PC. It's too much faffing around since i broke my PC card reader

Oh and....

 

[Viper]

ducklings + fox = no ducklings

 

[OutLore]

ducklings + fox = no ducklings

Are you sure they haven't moved on to "wetter pastures"? I would have thought that momma duck would get them to the nearest water asap - presumably they'll need feeding.

 

[The Magik]

So you have duck and ducklings?

How many can you fit at your kitchen table again?

 

[Nod]

ducklings + fox = no ducklings

All sorts of predators will take ducklings, so unless a fox was actually spotted taking them, I would look for other possible culprits rather than blaming foxes straight away. Ducklings are also fairly mobile soon after hatching, so may well have been led away from the nest site by their mother.

 

[Kerioak]

If the mum is still around and no ducklings then something has probably had them, fox, magpie, crow, jay, fox, cat, rat etc . If she is gone as well then she has taken them off, they don't stay around the nest for very long after hatching

 

[Viper]

it was 100% a fox. My dad saw it poking around the nest when he went to lock the doors. As soon as he opened the door it bolted. Got the ducklings and apparently the mum has limped away