Posted by Michele McHenry on April 21, 2008

Q: Hello - I have read some of the other questions on Mallard duck eggs, but I am still not sure if the eggs at my house have begun the incubation period. A Mallard female began laying some eggs last Wednesday (my husband was home and heard her), and we found the nest the next morning. Every day we kept checking the nest and noticed more and more eggs in it. The last few days we have noticed that the female Mallard was sitting on the eggs in the morning and for some of the afternoon, and then she leaves the nest late afternoon and doesn't return until early or late the next morning. My sister-in-law's dog scared her away on Sunday morning, and we didn't see her this morning. I guess it's possible that she came to the nest later in the morning, but there is no way to tell. I was wondering if you could provide an opinion as to weather or not she started the incubation period or not? From reading other questions that have been posted, I'm not sure if "incubation period" means that she sits on the eggs all day and night or not. Also, since she was only scared away one time will she return to her eggs or has she completely abandoned them? I want to try and save the eggs any way that I can.

Thank you for your time and response. It is greatly appreciated.

Habitat: suburban/yard

State: Wisconsin

Habitat: suburban/yard

A: There's really no way to tell whether your duck will return to her nest or not. My guess is that she will. Your question about incubation is a good one though. Once incubation begins, she'll be on the nest for most of a 24 hour period. There will be short times when she'll leave for a bit of food and water but she'll be on the nest almost all of the time. I'm guessing from your description of the long periods when she's off the nest that her clutch is not complete yet. Mallards typically lay 7-10 eggs in their clutch but may lay as many as 15 and incubation period is from 26-30 days. It has been my experience that ducks and geese will sometimes spend a rather lengthy period sitting on the nest during the time the clutch is being established - in other words, BEFORE incubation actually begins. I always figured the birds were just taking their time laying the next egg.

If I were you, I'd keep a watch to see if you can tell when she begins really sitting on the nest most of the time (use binoculars from afar) and do your best to keep any kind of disturbance at a real minimum. Best of luck to you and your duck.

John Wiessinger ( April 22, 2008)