Dead woodie

[Farley]

We were changing out the wood chips in the wood duck houses yesterday and found one with a dead adult hen woodie and about 10 unhatched eggs. We cant figure out how it would have died, the only thing that comes to mind is heatstroke. Anybody ever see something like this?

On the bright side, 5 out of 7 were used last year.

[Sartell Angler]

I would say that the duck most likely died of exhaustion/ malnutrition, especially if the poor thing already had 10 eggs laid...didn't think they would start laying eggs for a couple weeks yet.

sa/wdw

[Farley]

It was most likley in there from last spring. We dont think it was a rat or anything like that because the eggs were still there and there was no blood or anything.

[Nova]

I run about 30 houses between my home and the duck camp. We have found about one every other year dead in the house with unhatched eggs. I have been told it is heat related. I try to keep them in the shade and light collored, but it still happens . I didn't find one this year or last, so maybe I have them right now.

[Crusty old Swede]

Two years ago when I cleaned out a box I found the remains of a dead squirrel and a hen woodie sorta tangled up together. She didn't go quietly & took the varmit with her.

[Redwalleye]

I have around 10 houses up and have seen that before too. An article I read several years ago claims that heat can do it. whenever possible my houses go up in shade. (which is hard in big sloughs). On the up side all but 1 of my houses were used last spring and they're ready for another. Just wondered where all those ducks were in september. oh well.

[wooduck26]

Heat issues are EASILY solved by keepind a 1/4 inch gap in the top of the house........while building them, leave one of the sides a bit lower so it dont go up tight to the roof......it'll let the house "breath", and prevent dead hens.

[Farley]

Woodduck26- that's a good idea. I wonder if a guy could take a cordless drill and drill some 1/4 inch holes around the tops of the houses to do the same thing instead of taking them all down.

[Redwalleye]

Good idea, the gap will let out more heat I think though than the air holes that I have in there. However my carpentry skills have probably left enough gaps any way. Thanks

Red