Wild mallard duck nesting in my back yard

[Brooklyn_Born]

I’m posting this here, even though I don’t live on a farm, but in the suburbs outside of Boston, because I hope someone can give me advice! A few weeks ago my husband discovered a female mallard duck lying beneath a large shrub in our back yard. She stuck around, and one day he saw about 10 eggs in a nest she was lying on. The nearest large pond or river is about 1/2 mile away–I’m not sure why she chose our small fenced in back yard–we’ve never had a duck before (then again, we’ve always had dogs, and just lost our last dog last December).

The only water we have in our back yard is a small 1000 gallon fish pond. Some people think she chose to nest in our yard because of all the flooding that occured this past spring–many nests near ponds and rivers were washed away.

My question is, if the little ducklings hatch (and I hope they do!), what should I do, if anything? They won’t be able to fly over the 6 foot fence for awhile. I suppose I can leave the gate open. Will they be happy paddling around my little pond? Should I seek assistance from knowledgeable wildlife people to safely move the duck and her brood to a safer pond area? I’m afraid if mama trys to move them back to the larger pond or river, they might get hit by a car, because are neighborhood is near a high traffic area.

Any suggestions?

P.S. I had gotten some cracked corn to feed her, but then decided it might not be a good idea because I didn’t want to attract other animals to her nest.

Thanks!

[TBMaggie]

My sister, who lived in a smallish city, had a mother mallard duck lay eggs in her yard one year. The eggs hatched, and the babies did just fine…I remember seeing the mother duck, followed by her 10 babies all in a row, marching down the sidewalk. I don’t know if all lived to adulthood, or ? Who knows why the duck decided to lay her eggs where she did - there wasn’t a pond or lake anywhere nearby.

I don’t know if calling the DNR would help - or just let nature take its course. MaMa duck was an idiot.

[JSwan]

@Brooklyn Born;4827767

Any suggestions?

Leave her alone. She knows more about raising ducklings than you do!

She’ll leave the nest on occasion to drink and eat, then come back. Once the ducklings hatch she’ll march them right down to the water and they’ll follow her in a little line.

This is a pretty decent website with information on various species in North America. Here’s a blurb on ducks.

http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=21561

Hope that helps.

[Brooklyn_Born]

Thanks for your stories and advice. Looks like I’ll just let nature take its course, and trust mama duck!

[wildlifer]

Yup, just let her be. She will do a better job than you could and she knows what she needs.

[NoDQhere]

Once they hatch, open your yard gate and she will march her little ones to the water.

We have a goose nesting on the edge of one of our hayfields this spring. She is about 1/2 mile from the river. I just hope the foxes or raccoons don’t find her nest.

[danceronice]

If the pond’s in the yard and you don’t mind duck poop in it, just leave everything as is and don’t worry about the fence. If anything a fenced yard will keep the ducklings safer from predators. Don’t bug her while she’s brooding and she should take care of everything.

She might/probably will lose a few. My mother has her duck regulars who come to her birdfeeder every year and there’s usually a hen who brings her brood, and rather like the wild turkesy there’ll sometimes be fewer at the end of the summer, but they’re wild, so there’s not much you can do about that.

[Ambitious_Kate]

She probably chose your place because she feels its safe. It may be. If you once had dogs but don’t now, the dogs won’t bother her, but the other predators, fox etc., will still be staying away.

Fenced is a plus for her, too. She’s no dummy.

[Brooklyn_Born]

You know, I thought that too about being a smart duck with my fenced in back yard :).

I’ve really miss my dogs–so I kind of feel blessed that this beautiful wild duck chose my backyard to have her babies. I hope my goldfish don’t mind sharing a pond if she stays around my backyard (I will open the gate though). I am quite sure, however, that the bullfrog will be quite affronted by their presence :).

[RainyDayRide]

hmm, bull frogs eat ducklings. If he’s large enough, he’ll be delighted to have visitors.

[Brooklyn_Born]

Oh dear–the bull frog could eat a duckling? That’s not good. Then hopefully mama will lead them out the gate! I’ll keep a close watch.

[Heart_s_Journey]

I’ve had several Mallards do the same thing in my yard last spring and recently noticed several Moscovy ducks hanging around the back of the yard. I guess the word is getting out that it’s a safe place. There is a huge lake about 30 yards away. I tried feeding the Mallards, but they had no interest in sunflower seeds or grain.

[Louise]

@Heart's Journey;4833132

I tried feeding the Mallards, but they had no interest in sunflower seeds or grain.

Try cracked corn. I put it out for the wild turkeys, but the mallards like it, too. Just be careful. Last winter, for about a month, I ended up with about 50 (no exaggeration) milling around my bird feeder every evening. I got so I called them the seething mass.

[JSwan]

@Brooklyn Born;4831131

Oh dear–the bull frog could eat a duckling? .

Everything will eat ducklings. I have snapping turtles in my pond and it is awful to see little ducklings venture into the water for the first time… then a couple of minutes later disappear. Bloop. Gone.

[Bluey]

I had two snow egrets stop by in the yard the other day.
I told them to move on, a bobcat lives here and patrols the yard fence daily, as does a very young and leggy coyote, but I don’t think the coyote is up to catch him a bird.

I would let nature take it’s course, see where this goes.

It is neat to have them close to watch, is it.:yes:

[mikemcq35]

I have a female mallard that’s been nesting in my backyard for almost a month now. She leaves a couple times a day then returns to sit the rest of the day. Just tonight I looked out to check on her and there’s a male standing a couple feet away. From everything I’ve read about their behavior this seems odd to me. Can anyone help answer this for me please?

[demidq]

We have a wild turkey nesting (if you can call it that ) on the slope on the other side of our septic tank- maybe 20’ from the back door. All she did was flatten a few daylily plants and lay the eggs on the ground. Two eggs so far. How big is the usual turkey clutch?

[Pep_n_Ann]

@Brooklyn Born

You know, I thought that too about being a smart duck with my fenced in back yard :).

I’ve really miss my dogs–so I kind of feel blessed that this beautiful wild duck chose my backyard to have her babies. I hope my goldfish don’t mind sharing a pond if she stays around my backyard (I will open the gate though). I am quite sure, however, that the bullfrog will be quite affronted by their presence :).

How big are the goldfish? Small ones are good duck snacks.

[csaper58]

@mikemcq35@yahoo.com

I have a female mallard that’s been nesting in my backyard for almost a month now. She leaves a couple times a day then returns to sit the rest of the day. Just tonight I looked out to check on her and there’s a male standing a couple feet away. From everything I’ve read about their behavior this seems odd to me. Can anyone help answer this for me please?

Perfectly normal. Leave them alone and pretend they’re invisible.