I ought to be outdoors in the last of the daylight. But I wanted to share that the body condition check of the Runners and Romy went well. It is not extremely scientific or thorough, but for new duck people, this might just be a helpful idea.
One advantage in having fairly friendly ducks is that this is not difficult with them. It also makes it easier that their night pen has a 7 foot ceiling, and is ten by 7 in the main area.
I simply pick each one up gently, grab a smooch on the back of the neck, thank her and put her down. The smooch is mostly for me, but it lets me feel her feathers on my face (sensitive skin on me) and detect any roughness or other unusual sensation, and near my nose to detect any off odors. The way I pick them up, I encircle their little bodies so at once I can feel how strong they are (their wings pushing my hands away), their keel, their sides and get a rough weight estimate. Everybody's doing well. Fünf is a tad light, but she got a little light on the brood, and so I put her on an extra treats regimen the last three weeks. That seems to have worked out fine.
Whole process takes about 5 seconds per duck. They think it's some strange but apparently benign seizure on my part, based on their reactions. They know it's coming, they try to dash away, I scoop them up, smooch, and put them back down. They trot away, wiggle their tails happily, give the "I'm okay" wing-flap, and all is well.
They even seem to know once I have done one, I won't be picking her up again so those that go first just wander out of my way as I approach my next smoochee.
I have already checked Bean's body condition several times this week as he went after Romy. sigh. He's just fine.
Hazel and Carmella are not the easiest, but tomorrow evening I plan to scoop them up, too, smooches and all. They hate it, but get over it in a few seconds, too.
One advantage in having fairly friendly ducks is that this is not difficult with them. It also makes it easier that their night pen has a 7 foot ceiling, and is ten by 7 in the main area.
I simply pick each one up gently, grab a smooch on the back of the neck, thank her and put her down. The smooch is mostly for me, but it lets me feel her feathers on my face (sensitive skin on me) and detect any roughness or other unusual sensation, and near my nose to detect any off odors. The way I pick them up, I encircle their little bodies so at once I can feel how strong they are (their wings pushing my hands away), their keel, their sides and get a rough weight estimate. Everybody's doing well. Fünf is a tad light, but she got a little light on the brood, and so I put her on an extra treats regimen the last three weeks. That seems to have worked out fine.
Whole process takes about 5 seconds per duck. They think it's some strange but apparently benign seizure on my part, based on their reactions. They know it's coming, they try to dash away, I scoop them up, smooch, and put them back down. They trot away, wiggle their tails happily, give the "I'm okay" wing-flap, and all is well.
They even seem to know once I have done one, I won't be picking her up again so those that go first just wander out of my way as I approach my next smoochee.
I have already checked Bean's body condition several times this week as he went after Romy. sigh. He's just fine.
Hazel and Carmella are not the easiest, but tomorrow evening I plan to scoop them up, too, smooches and all. They hate it, but get over it in a few seconds, too.
