Should i expect ducklings soon???

[gemmathomas90]

I have had two mallards one female one male since they were a few weeks old, i had them back in june. they lived in the house for a few weeks then when big enough we converted the outside wooden shed into a pen and we leave them roam the garden a few hours a day. the routine ive had with them has been simple, i'd leave them run the garden and swim in the paddling pool feed them then when its time guide them back into the pen. since they were ducklings they have been shy and timid and would move on if i tried going near them i didnt mind i just enjoyed watching them! a few months ago when changing the food in their pen, i found one or 2 eggs just laying around, so i removed them i didnt notice any eggs after that but for a few weeks now ive noticed that when im out the garden with them, either feeding them or replacing their water in the pool the male is marching towards me aggressively especially if i walk near the shed, on some occassions he's even tried attacking my feet and actually chased me into the house! i didnt know what it was but i've now noticed an egg that has been burrowed into the hay in the sleeping quarters of their pen so i'm guessing that this is the reason he is warning me away from his territory maybe its a fertilized egg that hes making sure im not going to take? as i have noticed him sticking his beak by the egg as if to check its still there. i really need someone elses opinion on this as im reading more and more on the net but not really getting the answers i want lol the female comes out of the pen as normal when i open the doors so i dont know if shes sittting on it? should i expect ducklings in a few weeks? or is the male just protecting his mate??
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Sorry for the essay guys but i wanted to make sure i got every detail in, hoping someone will give me the answers !! Thank You For Reading!!

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Ahh how wonderful!
She won't start sitting until she has layed a full clutch which can be up to 16 eggs! You will know when she goes broody as she will only come off the nest for a few minutes each day.
At the moment the behaviour of the drake is perfectly normal When she starts sitting he may just hang around outside her nest or he may fly off for a while.
Keep us posted!
zo
x

 

[gemmathomas90]

ok thank you i thought he had just developed a hatred for me lol ill just be patient and wait to see what happens, theres only one egg there the last time i checked which was about 2 weeks ago i feed them grit with their food too but i dont think theres anymore eggs there, i hope i do open the shed to little ducklings one day though lol what happens if they are hatching eggs? and will the male or female kill the ducklings if i leave them all together? xx

 

[dorsetduckowner]

It is hard to say, sometimes the male does try and kill the babies, you would have to keep a very close eye on them. If she hasn't laid a full clutch by now she may not this season... or... she may be laying elsewhere in the garden. You will know when she is sitting though as she will vanish!!!

 

[gemmathomas90]

ok thanks alot xx

 

[charliefox]

hi when a hen mallard make her nest in the wild she takes feathers from her front and lines the nest with them then she lays a clutch of eggs and starts sitting if at any time she leaves the nest she will cover them up to keep them warm and i suspect what cant be seen cant be taken by crows and the like and the drake will stand gard and act as a decoy to lead preditors away from the nest my advice would be to leave them alone they know what they are doing uncle fox