Young Mallard Hen

[shorthairsrus]

I have a young hen made a nest is a little clump in my backyard. Many eggs ---- She prances around like king sht but in reality how is she going to get the chicks to water. I live in town and the last squirell and baby rab in my yard RIP deceased due to crows. I dont know if she thinks she will march them down the street a half mile to the drainage ditch or what. Were empty nesters - so much for that :}

PS i watch the ones at the lake and vs the Canadians the drakes do not do shit. They sit on my dock and lay out and BS all day while the female raises the kids. So its not like he will be any help.

 

[Lycanthrope]

maybe shes a dryland mallard... evolution!

 

[Allen]

Yes, mallards do exactly that. They build nests out on the prairie (or even in town) and then they eventually take the kids on stroll to find water.

There was a period of about 3 or 4 years where we had a mallard build a nest about 20 ft from our front office door. Every year she would just up and disappear with the young'uns as they walked at least a mile to the nearest body of water.

As for the survival rate of the ducklings? That I don't know, but I was pretty sure it was the same hen each year because of where she nested.

 

[dukgnfsn]

my mom lived in a square shaped 55+ retirement complex where the building surrounded a open area in the middle. completely locked in. All 3 years she was there a mallard hen has a nest and eggs under her window. She had been there before my mom moved in and when the egg would hatch all the tenants would watch and when she was searching a way out the tenants would open the doors and escort them thru the hall and down to the river. This was in Fargo just off the Red River was pretty cool to watch and something to keep the people interested in.

 

[Rowdie]

my mom lived in a square shaped 55+ retirement complex where the building surrounded a open area in the middle. completely locked in. All 3 years she was there a mallard hen has a nest and eggs under her window. She had been there before my mom moved in and when the egg would hatch all the tenants would watch and when she was searching a way out the tenants would open the doors and escort them thru the hall and down to the river. This was in Fargo just off the Red River was pretty cool to watch and something to keep the people interested in.

I watched a video of the same scenario. Can't remember if it was a school or if it was in Japan

 

[Davy Crockett]

My mom was in a retirement complex like that and I can visualize the excitement of it all.

 

[KDM]

Watched a family of geese walking across a worked soybean field with about 8 youngins in tow and a coyote came out of a ditch and ran right at them. The gander spread his wings and met that stinky butt sniffer in open combat face to face. That coyote couldn't have known the azz kickin he was about to get. That bird hit him with alternating wing strikes to the sides of its head combined with lightning fast beak jabs to the face. I about soiled my pants from laughter. That stupid dog tucked tail after about a minute of constant and effective punishment with its tail tucked and I'm sure reconsidering its life choices. Hopefully mama duck has a similar arsenal and attitude.