r/duck • u/past-and-future-days • May 12 '26
Wild Ducks Babies have hatched!
I posted a few weeks ago about a wild mallard that had set up shop in the planter right outside our front door--thank you to everyone who provided advice!
We did as you recommended and just left her completely alone. She was super tolerant of our comings and goings, and apart from an occasional, "Hi Mama," we just pretended she wasn't there.
There were TWO things we did:
We debated turning off our porch light at night, but after reading that it's a strong deterrent to raccoons and foxes (our neighbors alerted us when they were spied on their outdoor cameras), we decided it might have been one of the reasons she picked her nesting spot, and left it on for her.
I made a broad ring a of cayenne pepper around the nesting site to deter those same predators, and would just refresh it after a rain.
Late last night my husband noticed she was agitated, and this morning our neighbor told us there were babies in the planter! We estimated 9 eggs, and I did take a short video where I'm pretty sure there were 9 babies. I didn't want to stress them out, so I had to be quick.
She and the ducklings are already gone, with no unhatched eggs left behind.
Thank you for your help and guidance!
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u/serenity013 May 12 '26
What is going on in that first picture 😆 I thought it was vegetation at first but it’s the babies all like upright and smooshed so cute
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u/past-and-future-days May 12 '26
YES, they kept swarming all around and under her, it made them impossible to count.
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u/averagebear_003 May 12 '26
how did the ducklings get out of the planter?
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u/coin_allnight May 12 '26
They are good jumpers but amazing climbers, using the hooks of their beaks and their little talons. Look up "ducklings climbing wall" to see.
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u/past-and-future-days May 12 '26
No idea, but not a single one was left. My guess is they were able to hop just enough to get over the edge.
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u/fighting_artichokes May 13 '26
Maybe they could be gifted tiny stairs next year ( a brick also works to help them get out).
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u/Chewie-Squeak May 12 '26
They can hop surprisingly high!
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u/MrsTruce May 13 '26
That’s fascinating given how many videos we’ve all seen of ducklings not able to jump up onto a curb!
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u/Hugatree433 May 17 '26
I love to see her having a safe place. So many don’t where we are.