Advice - What animal would take mallard eggs?

ElwoodsGirl · #1 (**permalink**) 26-04-2010, 12:28 PM

My Mallard which we have had from a baby had made a nest which she had been sitting on since Saturday morning .... This morning we woke to find that she had been attacked and all of her eggs stolen... She has feathers missing from her back and wings and there was blood ... We have put her away in her house to hopefully recover, but no sign of the eggs.... Anyone have any idea what could have taken them ...... ??? Also any suggestions for keeping her safe if she trys again ???

werdnal · #2 (**permalink**) 26-04-2010, 12:40 PM

Foxes, squirrels, badgers, stoats, weasels, magpies, crows, jays, rats, probably others I can't think of!

Because she was injured too, I'd think it was likely a fox or similar and she tried to defend them. If so, its lucky she's OK. Not a lot you can do to prevent it unless you can encourage her to nest inside a shed or duck house.

Hobjob · #3 (**permalink**) 27-04-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werdnal

Foxes, squirrels, badgers, stoats, weasels, magpies, crows, jays, rats, probably others I can't think of!

Because she was injured too, I'd think it was likely a fox or similar and she tried to defend them. If so, its lucky she's OK. Not a lot you can do to prevent it unless you can encourage her to nest inside a shed or duck house.

Gulls, jackdaws ............

any more?

rossbells · #4 (**permalink**) 27-04-2010, 06:33 PM

mink?

animartco · #5 (**permalink**) 28-04-2010, 12:28 PM

The most likely candidate is a hedgehog. Eggs are their very favourite dish, and the fact that the birds feathers were in dissaray and bloodied almost possitively proves hedghog. She would have tried to protect her eggs, throwing herself against the bristles.

ElwoodsGirl · #6 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 07:55 AM

Thanks everyone ... she is on the mend now although seems sad about her eggs ... not sure if she will try to nest again or if its to late in the season now ??

benjaminbutton · #7 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 03:13 PM

hedgehogs and minks

Naturenutz · #8 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 05:12 PM

Sorry to hear this .Were the eggs shells left,smashed etc ? or was there just no sign of them.Was the nest on the ground,sometimes mallards nest in trees.

HedgehogRescue · #9 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by animartco

The most likely candidate is a hedgehog. Eggs are their very favourite dish, and the fact that the birds feathers were in dissaray and bloodied almost possitively proves hedghog. She would have tried to protect her eggs, throwing herself against the bristles.

Hedgehogs will take eggs if they are just lying around but they would run if something the size of a mallard came at them and if she was sitting on the nest at the time they wouldn't try to push her off to get the eggs.

The fact she has feathers missing from her back would also indicate not a hedgehog. They don't fight back.

I would think you're looking at some of the other culprits mentioned previously. I wouldn't think it was a fox either or she would be badly injured or dead. Do you have a badger sett in the area?

animartco · #10 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 12:16 PM

Hi Hedgehog Rescue. Well, I don't blame you for being biased. I am equally biased against hedgehogs I admit; because one ate the leg off my little mandarin duck.
I think you underestimate the strength of a large male hedgehog. Perhaps they don't grow so big in your area? But here is something you could try... put out a group of eggs find a hedgehog that hasn't been habitually artificially fed, then try to stop the hedgehog from eating them!