Expert: Julia Booth - 12/23/2008

Question
I am camping in Southern Georgia for the winter. Our camp site is by the lake, this is December and the temps are at night in the high 30's.  I have discovered a Mallard Duck nest, on the ground at the foot of a tree.  It has approx. 20 eggs in the nest, and at times I see the Mallard sitting on the eggs.  I am puzzled, i thought Mallards laid their eggs in the spring. I have no idea when the eggs were laid. Will these eggs hatch this late in the season?  How many eggs does a Mallard normally lay?  

Answer
Sorry for the delay in answering this. I was too ill to use my computer and haven't been online since 12-20-08 as a result.

I have never heard of a wild duck nesting during the winter. Domestic ones sometimes do, because you can manipulate the temperature for them. A Mallard's clutch can vary from 5 to 15 eggs. Incubation is about 28 days and tends to occur between March and August. But they are also not very bright and it's possible that this mom is sitting on some duds. It's far too cold for her to hatch babies.

I would just leave her alone. You know what they say about a woman scorned? It's worse for female ducks. I once saw a female Canadian goose chase a flock of children five hundred yards at the Los Angeles Arboretum. I do wish I'd had my video camera with me. She will eventually realize the eggs are no good and abandon her endeavor to hatch them

Anyway, hope this helps.

Julia