Hello Everyone.
I have contacted the OP, but not heard back. While I have a moment I wanted to let you all know that I am most likely NOT going to be able to finish my blocks this month.
My Mother is working in Israel for 2 months and in that time I am in charge of my Grandmother's care.
She...
Tonight during band practice:
Guy with guitar:
What are your ducks doing?
Me:
Oh, they are just deciding who gets to go in the pool first. Fern will bite Poppy on the head & climb on her back. The yellow duck will get in the pool while they aren't paying attention.
Guy with guitar:
You...
A girl duck says "QUACK" and a boy duck says "wha".
Like this:
When they get older boy ducks will have curly tail feathers.
Some ducks who are lower in the ranks get less time at the feeder, and that can account for size difference. The Cayuga may be a pip-squeak, too.
Good luck.
I think hatchery stock can be very variable where "type" is concerned. You may be witnessing that first hand.
Or, you may have a drake?
I am not sure. I just hate the zero. I know how hard it is to wait for responses.
Remember, too, every duck develops differently. If the Cayuga is lower...
You should post on the Maine thread. Lots of nice folks & good breeders.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1370/maine/3290#post_9062779
and WELCOME to Maine!
I just moved here last year & got chickens about a week later. Things really are the way they should be here.
I have a small place, big yard, long commute. I drive 45 minutes to Cape Elizabeth & get to barrel through Portland. Whoo. I am ready to give some PSAs on driving after a swing down State St. I get funny looks from all of my friends about where I live, how I live - the ducks seem to tip the...
In my area it is impossible to get Mazuri Waterfowl. They won't even order it for me. The local guy said it is too expensive & he can't turn a profit. I have taken to adding nutritional yeast, rolled oats, quinoa & veggies to their feed, but continue my search for Mazuri. I got a bag last...
I would give them 5-7 days to get used to their area and you.
Ducks are easy to herd - especially compared to chickens - but they respond better to someone they are used to (at least my ducks - I am the only one they cooperate with).
I catch bugs I want them to eat & bring them into the coop as...
Toadbriar - she is adorable! Crazy cakes!
Maybe it has something to do with the gold spots on my Poppy & her Mom?
A recent picture of Poppy greeting the new ducklings:
She & Fern are laying lunatics right now! Two a day for a while. Last week I got 16 eggs between Mon. & Fri. from three...
They do come around despite the banjo. Most humans won't even do that. And they come & stand in the middle of the jam looking at us all.
One day they launched a mission to inspect the stand-up bass. It sounds funny when ducks nibble on strings. They ran, too, when they get a good note out...
I was just laughing because another friend said, "What are you doing? You must be doing SOMETHING!" (her chickens & ducks are not great layers) and I am not doing anything really - just what you do. :)
I will try to blend some things into the layer feed. This is just ... a lot more eggs than...
I look at it as a real test of my will power.
Especially today - I made a Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake with Marscapone & Dolce De Leche. It has a shortcake crust & a strawberry compote worked into the filling with the Dolce & Marscapone. They were gorgeous things. Too bad for me.
It...
Huh.
I am not making them lay at all. Actually, I wish they would slow down! I can't keep up! I do all the usual stuff - feed, water with some ACV, peas, let them have time out of the yard when I am out there. Pools... nothing special. But I didn't light them or heat them this winter &...
Somehow I got 16 eggs from 3 ducks between Monday & Friday last week.
Saturday - 7 eggs from 3 girls. They have been laying more eggs than I have ducks for weeks now.
I have one Buff & two Anconas.
I am so amazed, but also wonder - is this good for them? I mean, I can only imagine if I laid...
I have a few pools scattered around the property. I range my ducks in different areas to keep the garden pests under control. If a bed performs poorly I keep a pool in it when there is nothing planted there, let the ducks forage around it & just soak the ground until I think it can't take it...
I have not seen anything like this, but I hope to give you a bump.
A topical antibiotic cream would probably do her some good, or at least a warm bath, maybe spot clean the sores, and put some honey on them. Honey has some powerful astringent/antimicrobial properties, and probably wouldn't HURT...