Why Do Ducks Bury Their Eggs?

Ducks are known to be quite intelligent. But sometimes, they do some of the oddest things, like burying their eggs. Are they planning to grow ducklings?

No, even the ducks know it’s impossible. So, why do ducks bury their eggs? Ducks bury their eggs to protect the eggs from danger and to ensure proper temperature management.

Burying eggs is not an uncommon behavior among ducks, and there are quite a few underlying factors. Keep following this article to find out!

Read more about ducks behavior:

How Does Burying the Eggs Help?

As mentioned earlier, ducks bury their eggs to protect them and provide an optimal temperature for the eggs. Let’s see how exactly burying helps in these cases.

Protects the Eggs

If you have seen a duck egg firsthand, you will notice that these eggs are pretty vulnerable and will easily break at the slightest alteration.

But the biggest threat that the eggs face is predators. Snakes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, gulls and many others hunt for duck eggs. Insects can also damage the eggs in some scenarios.

There have also been cases where ducks have stolen eggs from each other. To avoid these situations, ducks end up burying their eggs. This way, the eggs don’t face any danger and hatch in time.

Creates an Optimal Temperature for the Eggs

If the ducks sense that the temperature is too humid or hot for the eggs to survive, then they will often opt to bury their eggs.

Ducks won’t go to burying their eggs straight away in this case. First, they might try to cover the nest and the eggs with vegetation, feces or leaves, and if those actions don’t work, then they will move to bury.

Do Wild Ducks Bury Their Eggs?

Yes, wild ducks are known to bury their eggs often. The primary reason for wild ducks burying their eggs frequently instead of ducks that are raised in a domestic environment is the harsh environment.

In the wild, there are more predators, food sources can be scarce, and this can lead to a good number of ducks sharing the same area.

Ducks that are raised in the wild also choose questionable nest choices as there is just too much competition for good places.

Are There Any Duck Species that Bury Their Eggs?

Ducks in general, are known to bury their eggs when they encounter danger or see potential predators roaming around the area.

This ‘burying’ behavior isn’t exclusive to a few handpicked species. It is a natural trait that all breeds of duck share.

That being said, if we had to point out a single species, Mallard ducks have shown this trait more than others.

What Are the Reasons Why Ducks Don’t Bury Their Eggs?

With all this talk about ducks burying their eggs, you may think that they do it every time they lay an egg, right?

No, ducks don’t usually opt for burying and here are the reasons why –

What Are the Reasons Why Ducks Don_t Bury Their Eggs

There Is No Predators / Dangers Around

Burying is like an act of self-defense that parent ducks opt for. So, if there are no predators roaming around the area or any chance of harm falling upon the eggs, ducks won’t bury their eggs.

Optimal Weather Condition

Improper temperature can lead the eggs to become rotten, and for that reason, ducks tend to bury them. But if the environment is perfect for the eggs to thrive, then there isn’t any cause for the ducks to bury those said eggs.

Acquired the Perfect Nest

Ducks are more likely to keep their eggs in the nest if the nest is comfortable, placed near a good food source and risk-free.

Parental Preference

Ultimately whether the eggs should be buried or not comes down to the parents. If the parents find themselves in a comfortable environment, then they won’t bury the eggs.

Do Ducks Cover Their Nests When They Lay Eggs?

Yes, they do. The cause is similar to the reason why they bury their eggs – protecting the eggs from potential dangers.

Ducks will pluck out their own feathers, use their feces or opt for leaves, flowers and other surrounding materials to cover their nests when they lay eggs.
They do this to –

Do Ducks Cover Their Nests When They Lay Eggs

Avoid Predators

When the nest is covered, it allows a very limited view of the contents that are inside of the nest. This way, the visibility of the eggs is drastically reduced to any predators that pass by the nest.

The cover also works as a camouflage that makes the nest less conspicuous, making it quite difficult for predators to find it.

Provide Protection from Environmental Elements

Having a nest cover allows the ducks and the eggs to be protected from dangerous environmental elements like rain, wind and direct sunlight.

Regulate Temperature

With the additional insulation provided by the cover, the temperature within the nest can be more suitable for the ducks to lay eggs and can also save them from extreme weather conditions.

Conclusion

Ducks bury their eggs when they sense a potential threat towards the eggs. It isn’t an odd behavior but rather shows how intellectual and caring these waterfowls are.
Hopefully, this answers all of your concerns regarding the question of why do ducks bury their eggs.

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Article References:

https://www.wildlifecenter.org/mallard-duck-nests
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/do-not-interfere-with-duck-goose-nests/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/03/23/help-theres-a-mallard-laying-eggs-in-my-backyard/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/where-do-ducks-nest/