So I've had my six Magpie ducks for a few months and am just totally in love with them! (don't tell my chickens
) Their coloring is kind of quirky, and I call them my grazing "cow" ducks. They have a ton of personality and are simply a joy to share time and space with.
Well I'm a member of a duck rescue Yahoo group and recently there was a post about two Magpies needing homes. I found out today that they already found a home, but after I went to the feed store I wasn't too disappointed...
There in the poultry room -alone in a galvanized tub (cozy and cared for, but still alone)- was this tiny little duck staring up at me with the most pitiful and desperate expression (no, really!). I couldn't bear to leave the poor thing there, so I asked about it. Apparently a family had WANTED A DUCK recently and solicited all the local feed stores to get them one. One came through for them, but despite wanting a duck really badly they had neglected to look into whether they could actually keep one. It turns out that for whatever reason they couldn't have a duck, so after a day they took it to the feed store (a different, better one). So the little duck had been there, alone, for over a week!
The staff thought the duck was female, but no-one was sure -not even me! They also said s/he had been in perfect health the whole time s/he had been with them, so I decided to get a small pen to keep her in for a while before letting her loose with the big ducks. I set it up near where the other ducks would be able to see her and got her settled in with food and water before going to see what my Magpies were up to. They got up from their nap and proceeded to make their boisterous way to the pool, but on the way something came running up to them!
The little duck somehow managed to squeeze through the pen wire (the only door is on top and it was shut) and came running right up to meet her new friends! She must really have wanted to get out!
It was bittersweet and hilarious at the same time. She was like, "HAI GUYS, let's be friends!" and they were all startled and, "OMG WHAT IS THAT?!"
So my plans of a gradual introduction were thrown to the wind.
Naturally, the two drakes don't like her much at all right now and run her off if she gets too close. One of the ducks does as well, but not as aggressively. Two of the ducks don't seem to care one way or the other, and one duck seems to have taken a liking to her. She was showing the little one around a little anyway.
SO! After that rambling spiel I have a few questions for you knowledgable duck people.
First, is it a "she?"
There are a few "tufts" on some feathers that are growing out, so I'm assuming s/he's young still.
Second, what breed is s/he?
Is s/he a Call, or are Mallards (or whatever s/he is) quite small when they are young?
And lastly, is there anything I should watch out for or be aware of?
The drakes aren't being rough with her (no actual pinching or feather pulling), but I'm keeping an eye on them.
Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you!
Size comparison with the nearly five-month-old Magpies...
While the others nap, the friendly duck shows her the best dabbling places... (please excuse my lack of garden this year!)
A very pretty little duck, whatever s/he is...
This is completely unrelated but, here's my first drake feather spotting! I'm so pleased that it's white!
Well I'm a member of a duck rescue Yahoo group and recently there was a post about two Magpies needing homes. I found out today that they already found a home, but after I went to the feed store I wasn't too disappointed...
There in the poultry room -alone in a galvanized tub (cozy and cared for, but still alone)- was this tiny little duck staring up at me with the most pitiful and desperate expression (no, really!). I couldn't bear to leave the poor thing there, so I asked about it. Apparently a family had WANTED A DUCK recently and solicited all the local feed stores to get them one. One came through for them, but despite wanting a duck really badly they had neglected to look into whether they could actually keep one. It turns out that for whatever reason they couldn't have a duck, so after a day they took it to the feed store (a different, better one). So the little duck had been there, alone, for over a week!
The staff thought the duck was female, but no-one was sure -not even me! They also said s/he had been in perfect health the whole time s/he had been with them, so I decided to get a small pen to keep her in for a while before letting her loose with the big ducks. I set it up near where the other ducks would be able to see her and got her settled in with food and water before going to see what my Magpies were up to. They got up from their nap and proceeded to make their boisterous way to the pool, but on the way something came running up to them!
The little duck somehow managed to squeeze through the pen wire (the only door is on top and it was shut) and came running right up to meet her new friends! She must really have wanted to get out!
So my plans of a gradual introduction were thrown to the wind.
Naturally, the two drakes don't like her much at all right now and run her off if she gets too close. One of the ducks does as well, but not as aggressively. Two of the ducks don't seem to care one way or the other, and one duck seems to have taken a liking to her. She was showing the little one around a little anyway.
SO! After that rambling spiel I have a few questions for you knowledgable duck people.
First, is it a "she?"
There are a few "tufts" on some feathers that are growing out, so I'm assuming s/he's young still.
Second, what breed is s/he?
Is s/he a Call, or are Mallards (or whatever s/he is) quite small when they are young?
And lastly, is there anything I should watch out for or be aware of?
The drakes aren't being rough with her (no actual pinching or feather pulling), but I'm keeping an eye on them.
Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you!
Size comparison with the nearly five-month-old Magpies...
While the others nap, the friendly duck shows her the best dabbling places... (please excuse my lack of garden this year!)
A very pretty little duck, whatever s/he is...
This is completely unrelated but, here's my first drake feather spotting! I'm so pleased that it's white!
