2019 Spring Ducklings are here!

[WannaBeHillBilly]

What hormones are you feeding ?lol

I fact i just checked all the store bought food, the cracked corn, the pellets and the crumbles, even looked at the pictures of the duckling-food bags. - No hormones.

One of the Buff ducks just flattened in front of Limpy and tried to seduce him!
What the duck is going on?!?

They are too young for that!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Someone needs to take these ducklings aside and talk to them about the fact of life.

 

[Miss Lydia]

And I was amazed when my Runners were throwing themselves at Snoop their drake at 4 months old.

 

[MIDuckLady]

I fact i just checked all the store bought food, the cracked corn, the pellets and the crumbles, even looked at the pictures of the duckling-food bags. - No hormones.

One of the Buff ducks just flattened in front of Limpy and tried to seduce him!
What the duck is going on?!?

They are too young for that!

Must be spring is in the air up there now. Here in Florida the drake rape never seems to end.. Despite all that activity so far only 20% of their incubated eggs have produced viable ducklings. And just one of those hatched so far appear to be from Herman , my wonderful Saxony drake . I’m starting to think that despite his actions he may be a dud. Looks like Lars our young Rescue Swedish mix drake is the primary “donor” so far. Picture of ducklings below show only one possible Saxony.

I’m still hoping generous donations $ to the local 4-H clubs and additional incubations of our fertilized eggs to yield a few Saxony ducks soon. The 4-H members have agreed to raise many ducklings until I can better voice sex them at least. There is also another Saxony breeder in the mix.
Fingers crossed . I only have 8 ducks now after loosing 5 to botulism [dead fish] after hurricane flooding last year.

What is your drake / duck ratio now?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Someone needs to take these ducklings aside and talk to them about the fact of life.

And I was amazed when my Runners were throwing themselves at Snoop their drake at 4 months old.

My Runners started having fun with each other at an age of four months too, last year. But these duck(ling)s are just two months old. Maybe the weather, we have a sudden warm-up here and my head will explode shortly…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

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Must be spring is in the air up there now. Here in Florida the drake rape never seems to end.. Despite all that activity so far only 20% of their incubated eggs have produced viable ducklings. And just one of those hatched so far appear to be from Herman , my wonderful Saxony drake . I’m starting to think that despite his actions he may be a dud. Looks like Lars our young Rescue Swedish mix drake is the primary “donor” so far. Picture of ducklings below show only one possible Saxony.

I’m still hoping generous donations $ to the local 4-H clubs and additional incubations of our fertilized eggs to yield a few Saxony ducks soon. The 4-H members have agreed to raise many ducklings until I can better voice sex them at least. There is also another Saxony breeder in the mix.
Fingers crossed . I only have 8 ducks now after loosing 5 to botulism [dead fish] after hurricane flooding last year.

What is your drake / duck ratio now?

You drakes are beautiful and handsome! And i love the little ones… Those grey-white ducklings look like an oil-painting.

Since Donald's disappearance i am left with two ½ drakes. Limpy my lame drake and Erpelchen the drakeLing. It will be an interesting spring and summer…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

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…
Fingers crossed . I only have 8 ducks now after loosing 5 to botulism [dead fish] after hurricane flooding last year.
…

Good grief! Just saw that sentence! Sorry for your losses!
Yes botulism, that is still my primary suspect for Limpy's lameness. I have no clue from where he got it, but the symptoms did fit: Paralysis of one leg first, spreading to both legs and a crisis on the third day when i though he'd die.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Allergies? I’ve never heard of ducks being sexually actively as young as yours. Can’t explain what maybe going on weird

 

[Jpat]

Pheromones are airborne and could trigger rappid sexual maturity

Mabye your adult females are pumping out pheromones like crazy

Plus your setup and nurturing has been top notch no doubt youve given them the apsalute best healthiest up bringing

 

[MIDuckLady]

Good grief! Just saw that sentence! Sorry for your losses!
Yes botulism, that is still my primary suspect for Limpy's lameness. I have no clue from where he got it, but the symptoms did fit: Paralysis of one leg first, spreading to both legs and a crisis on the third day when i though he'd die.

Yes, botulism has long term impact on those that survive it too. I have one Saxony /Appleyard female left from the original flock that perished that no longer produces normal eggs anymore. Her gait was also impacted. Just waddles very slowly now. She is such a sweetheart still.