1. Reduced Brooding Effectiveness: The ducklings may not receive adequate warmth and protection from the mother, leading to potential health problems or even death.
2. Delayed Development: Ducklings rely on the mother duck's guidance to learn essential survival skills, such as feeding, foraging, and predator avoidance. Without the mother's guidance, they may have difficulties developing these skills and surviving on their own.
3. Sibling Competition: Ducklings may compete for food and space within the nest, leading to increased aggression and even cannibalism.
4. Unhealthy Conditions: The nest may become unsanitary due to accumulated feces and food scraps, leading to health risks for the ducklings.
5. Exposure to Predators: Staying in the nest for an extended period makes ducklings more vulnerable to predation by animals like cats, snakes, and birds of prey.
6. Abandonment: In some cases, the mother duck may eventually abandon the nest if the conditions become too challenging or if she feels threatened. This leaves the ducklings orphaned and vulnerable to survival.
7. Disrupted Natural Cycle: The absence of the mother duck interferes with the natural cycle of the duck family, impacting the duck population dynamics.
8. Delayed Migration: If the mother duck does not leave the nest during the appropriate migration period, the ducklings may miss crucial migration opportunities, affecting their long-term survival.