Delta Hen Houses are integral to increasing duck production

An unbalanced proliferation of predators that eat duck eggs and nesting hens significantly impact nest success in key prairie pothole breeding grounds. The most effective, cost-efficient tool for boosting mallard nest success is the Delta Hen House.

DELTA HEN HOUSES ARE A HIT WITH HEN MALLARDS

In areas where ground-nesting mallards typically experience nest success of less than 10%, Delta Hen Houses consistently boost nest success to 60% and sometimes as high as 80% or even more. (It takes at least 15% nest success to simply maintain duck populations at the level they go into the breeding season.)

Today's efficiently designed "Hen House Supersites" are a direct result of Delta's relentless research. These clusters of 100 or more Hen Houses are installed in a relative small geographic area with high mallard nesting densities. Supersites send thousands of mallards into every fall flight while reducing the costs of labor and overhead to produce ducks.

SUPPORT NESTING MALLARD HENS BY DONATING TODAY

Delta installs and maintains Hen Houses throughout the core of the prairie pothole region, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. These Hen Houses produce tens of thousands of mallards each year that band recovery data proves end up over decoys in all four flyways.

Stay Up To Date With Delta Waterfowl

6 mallards flying

Why Refuges Matter to All Hunters

8/6/2026

When managed properly, public-land habitat supports waterfowl and improves hunting

Read more
Wetland easements in the PPR have been bought and funded by waterfowlers through duck stamps. Photo by USFWS

‘We Have Invested Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in These Easements.’ Waterfowl Groups Send Urgent Letter to Secretary Burgum

8/6/2026

Four duck orgs urge lawmakers and the Department of the Interior to uphold drainage practices near wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region

Read more
Pintails on wetland

Delta Waterfowl Outlines Recent Work on Behalf of Wetlands and Duck Hunters

8/6/2026

While this is a process without suggested action, Delta and our colleagues believe it is prudent to comment and monitor any issues related to USFWS easements because of the important role they play as waterfowl breeding habitat.

Read more

Put more ducks over decoys

Delta uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting. Donate today!