Wow! What a wonderful story! And yes, our stories are similar. Mine are still with me and doing well. They love their routine and especially love their kiddie swimming pool filled with fresh water every day. I like hearing that your ducks force you to be calm. Mine are like that too. Most times...
They have free choice of a lot of different foods, but I am glad that they also nibble on that too. In any event, they are well fed and seem to be pretty happy with everything. Thanks again for the help.
Breaks my heart.
I think you told me about the wild fowl feed that floats. I bought some and give a small handful to the darlings every morning. I guess they like it. It disappears or just dissolves in the water. <smile>
I hope they hatch too. That's so scary. A couple of mine lay eggs, but I don't let them hatch. One went broody, and the chickens didn't like her occupying the nesting box all that time. She ended up with some sores on her back from chicken attacks. I isolated her for a week in a small dog crate...
Afternoon chilling. Three of my four Woodies. The other one is in the outside run chilling by the pool or chasing flies. Dynamics have changed this year, and she is still part of the group but also the odd-girl out. I added more swimming places so she can have a good splash and floating time.
I hung the old nesting bucket on a whim a month or so ago. I'm happy to see that a couple of the girls like it. Both of them were in the bucket before I had a chance to grab my cell phone and take these pictures. I have a 2nd nesting bucket, and I'm tempted to hang it higher.
I also noticed...
Yes. A couple showed up within hours. The last one showed up a day or two after release.
I had them out again a couple of times. The last time they were out, one of my hens spooked and flew away. Within seconds, she came back into the yard like a jet, flying for her life. A huge, hungry red...
We built this upper, corner box for the ducks before the beginning of the 2019 winter. They freaked. Thought it was a huge duck-eating monster, and stayed off this perch (their favorite) for months. Slowly, they acclimated, and this winter, the box has given them a warm and comfortable space on...
Since my intention was to release my ducks, I made it a point to not handle them when they were young. Oh well, who knew how it would all turn out. They flew away, and then came back. The world was way to scary for them. :)
That's wonderful! How is Violet a special needs duck?
Mine are not friendly. They keep their distance, but I know that they recognize me. They are familiar with me and are more comfortable with me than other people. I am the bringer of food, good stuff, and water. And I'm in the coop a couple...
No moss growing under these feet. I went to Mazuri web site, created an account, and ordered a 12 lb. bag of the waterfowl feed. Yes, I immediately noticed that the food floated on top of the water. THANK YOU!
I'll have to revisit the pond/deep pool idea. I live on an island, and we are on...
Oh gosh, that post is from July or August 2019. Yes, they love the water and come flying (sometimes literally) of the coop area and land directly into the water. In fact, there are days when I think they are rarely out of the water. I also have a lot of raised roost areas in the outside yard...
Thank you for sharing this video!! I *LOVE* your setup! :bow <duck pool envy> How do you keep the water from getting rank and nasty? My 4 have a small kiddie pool (in non-freezing weather), and by the end of the day, the water is unfit (and half of the water has been splashed out of the pool)...
Rescue, and they didn't want to leave. I can leave the door wide open, and they won't go out. :)
I have had them out, but last time, a red tailed hawk tried to attack. We're all happier this way.