baby duck with lots of problems

[Miss Lydia]

Sure! These aren't very good photos (which is why I didn't sell very much, hehe) but here are some of the works in progress I've had the past year or so. Did a lot of quirky jewelry bits, and later on I made clay blanks for tabletop gamers who wanted custom figurines.

That is amazing and beautiful Amykins. you did the doll too?

 

[Amykins]

That is amazing and beautiful Amykins. you did the doll too?

Yup! I used to do intricate dragon and unicorn figurines as well as entire chess sets, but the work that went into it wasn't worth the small profit I made off them. So now I only make them for very special gifts. But now I get to do it for a christmas ornament! <3 It'll be good to use my hands again for something other than changing duck diapeys

 

[GarnerZoo]

Thanks all for the info on duck mates. I know what you mean though about drakes wanting to do the deed with just about everything, we got Lady because Dave was trying to be frisky with the chickens and we didn't want him to hurt them. Then we found out that in North America WH ducks were an endangered breed so we let them have a clutch. Ducks are very interesting, I love to learn all the new things I do on here.

Also those are lovely figurines Amykins!

 

[pattyhen]

Nuts...I can't find the ornament swap thread!

I see you found it. I was looking it up to give you the details and I saw your post.

Patty

 

[Amykins]

Thanks all for the info on duck mates. I know what you mean though about drakes wanting to do the deed with just about everything, we got Lady because Dave was trying to be frisky with the chickens and we didn't want him to hurt them. Then we found out that in North America WH ducks were an endangered breed so we let them have a clutch. Ducks are very interesting, I love to learn all the new things I do on here.

Also those are lovely figurines Amykins!

Ducks are amazing creatures. The general opinion is that they're just dumb birds, but those of us who know them understand just how truly fun and silly they are! They ooze personality, and each one is different. I never fail to smile watching mine get up to their antics.

 

[pattyhen]

If Uno is a boy are you keeping him? Also if he's a boy do you think Que Sera and him will become mates someday? Since they're best friends now?
I've heard that ducks mate for life but I've also heard if ones mate dies it will become depressed if it doesn't get another mate, is this true?

I'll probably keep him. Now I have 2 more boys out of this summers hatch. Uno and Hershey. I also have two girls Que Sera and Yoo Hoo. I hope that Uno and Que Sera will be mates someday. They would have some lovely babies.

I don't think they mate for life. Clyde lost his mate Bonnie several years ago now he's hooked up with Sherry. I tried my best to find him a female pekin a while back but since he seems to be happy with Sherry I didn't get another duck.

Patty

 

[pattyhen]

Sure! These aren't very good photos (which is why I didn't sell very much, hehe) but here are some of the works in progress I've had the past year or so. Did a lot of quirky jewelry bits, and later on I made clay blanks for tabletop gamers who wanted custom figurines.

Those are really cute I'm surprised you didn't sell a lot.

 

[pattyhen]

The answer to this really depends what you mean by 'mate for life.' If you mean do they choose a mate and never fool around with anyone else if they have the opportunity, almost certainly no. Drakes with typically breed with anything female that moves, and sometimes things that aren't female or aren't moving. That can include attempting to breed with other poultry such as chickens.

One thing that's not at all uncommon, however, is for a duck and drake to pair up as 'preferred partners.' (There's probably a scientific term for that I'm not aware of.) The drake might breed with other ducks every chance he gets, but that one duck is the one he kind of hangs out with, like walking around the yard together or sleeping at night. They sometimes get so protective of 'their' duck that they'll attack other drakes that try to breed with her even though they (the 'mate' drake) are messing around with other females at every opportunity.

Another thing about the preferred partner thing is that even that can be seasonal. A drake and duck might pair up one year, then they might decide to pair up with others the following year. Where that gets sticky is if only one of them decides they want a new preferred partner. That one is kind of like two humans going through a divorce that only one of them wants.

LOL. I don't know how much this helps, but the short of it is that the only way you can force ducks to mate for life is to have only one duck and only one drake.

Jade you described it totally. Donald has his group which are Topper and Dee Dee. C.P.(cutie pie) is kind of a sub group with Donald they kind of hang out togeather and C.P's. woman is Freckles. Then we have Clyde and his woman is Sherry. Then we have Sonny who has Thelma, Louise and Rhonda Runner who joined this group when we put her in the baby pen with Uno.
she stayed in Sonny's group which also includes Que Sera, Hershey, Yoo Hoo and Uno. Sometimes the males will sneak over to the another group and that's when you hear all the quacking. The females strongly protest a male from another group trying to mate with them.

Patty

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yup! I used to do intricate dragon and unicorn figurines as well as entire chess sets, but the work that went into it wasn't worth the small profit I made off them. So now I only make them for very special gifts. But now I get to do it for a christmas ornament! <3 It'll be good to use my hands again for something other than changing duck diapeys

You have a special gift.

 

[pattyhen]

Ducks are amazing creatures. The general opinion is that they're just dumb birds, but those of us who know them understand just how truly fun and silly they are! They ooze personality, and each one is different. I never fail to smile watching mine get up to their antics.

Your so right Amykins they each have their own personality. We always call Topper a fluzzie. Clyde is protective and the doting dad, Donald thinks Dee and Topper hung the moon. Thelma and Louise are the motherly types that want to have babies all the time. Sonny is a cassanova who wants all the girls even tho he has more girls then any of the boys. Poor Freckles she kind of on the bottom of the pecking order C.P. doesn't take up for her at all. Donald tries to block her from eatting with Topper and Dee and he makes me so mad. Hershey and yoo Hoo hang out together they are the teenagers of the group. Que Sera and Uno are the babies Que Sera is the talker which she talks constantly and I never hear a peep out of Uno. Rhonda Runner is quiet and kind of hangs out in the backround of their group. Topper is not only a fluzzy but she thinks she is Queen of the yard. As I said before she is a pig in a ducks body. She takes her half out of the middle of any treats and she feels like it is her place to do so. Que Sera is a pig when it comes to watermelon. She will dart and zip after the bites I throw I think she is going to give Topper a run for her money when she grows up. Topper might be queen of the yard now but Que Sera is the princess.

Patty