Waterfowl Hunting
wood duck houses
Success down to 10 out of 32 with 2 others having large clusters of unhatched eggs (1 house had 24 eggs unhatched). I ask the DNR about the continual smaller amount of houses getting used. They stated wood ducks are now using natural cavities more. You can't make this up. They literally state that within a matter of a couple years wood ducks are back to preferring natural over man made. Personally, at least in my area, I think wood duck numbers are way down.
I clean mine out. They're used annually but each year there is at least one egg that doesn't hatch and there is always egg shells and breast feathers. Fun to make, helping the wildlife and always a guess to see if used or not. Thanks for making them and maintaining them. The ducks thank you too!
Was just at a seminar on Saturday up at Horicon on houses. Jeff Bahl is the Wildlife technician and the president of the wood duck society. He said that if you have houses that didn't hatch it could be from young hens laying an egg in each house and not incubating them. They don't know what to do to take care of the egg.
Edit: spell check changed his name.
Same problems as last year. Success in 14 out of 30 with 4 others having all unhatched eggs. Many others had some hatched with unhatched. Really struggling with what I can do better. Not sure if coons are harassing the hens or starlings are getting at the eggs or if April and May cold spells are causing problems. Open to suggestions if anyone is an expert.
