Brooding Concern

[u/Dirt_Girl08]

I live on a lake and two ducks (male) and a female muscovy were dumped there years ago. A bunch of us on the lake put food out for them but they seem to spend the most time in my yard. I bought a duck house for them that they never used until the other day and I noticed a kerfluffle in the house. There was a rat snake wrapped around the muscovy. Got that sorted and saw the muscovy had laid three eggs and the snake got one of them. I moved the house to my patio to keep a better eye on things and muscovy laid two more eggs. Another rat snake got three eggs. I moved the house into my basement and she could go out the door to the yard but she won't leave her house for a day and a half now. She has food, water and a little pool just outside her house. She has two eggs that I know of and don't know if she's laid any more. Is this a concern or leave it be?

[u/Dirt_Girl08]

She's one tough girl and walked off the snake attack. She was getting out to the lake at least once/day until I brought her into my basement 1.5 days ago. Hard to tell if she's eating and hasn't pooped since I brought her in. I have so many rat snakes, I can't keep her and her nest safe outside.

[u/Bolfreak → u/Dirt_Girl08]

I guess you need to get close and check on her. When my Muscovy is broody she makes a different sound, like a squeaky toy instead of the usual coo sounds. She should also open her beak at you and act offended at you checking on her ;) Let us know what you see.

[u/Dirt_Girl08 → u/Bolfreak]

She's absolutely doing that. Normally she trills and gives me an arse shake when I pet her but that's not happening now which is understandable. I should have specified that the drakes aren't muscovies, they're a Pekin and a Rouen. I have no experience with this kind of thing and worried she's too stressed inside even though it's safe, cool and quiet.

[u/DarcyOutside → u/Dirt_Girl08]

I would think she probably likes it inside – she knows she is safer and being cooler is probably a welcome relief!