Duck being picked on—pulling feathers

[Duckworth]

Freedom!! The other duck were chanting FREE FLIPPER! FREE FLIPPER! The crate opened . . . and Flipper just stood there, blinking in the sunlight, dazed by her sudden change in circumstances. I took her now frozen water bucket out and she just stood there, inside the crate. I left the door wide open and backed off and she just stood there. I carried the frozen water bucket inside to thaw in the bathtub and came back out to find Flipper still standing there inside the crate.

But when I opened the duck house door and the other ducks came rushing out . . . Flipper just stood there in the crate. Then Nipper went into the crate with her and herded Flipper out and into the duck house where they are throwing a joyous family reunion. None of them would come out for water or treats. They were just in there quacking it up. So, since it was 9 degrees F out there, I left them to it. Flipper will now be happy and healthy or I’ll have the dickens of a time getting her back into protective custody.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That was very funny! So happy for the joyous reunion and sure hope it continues. At 9degrees I hope they are all snuggled up together. Staying warm!!

 

[Duckworth]

That was very funny! So happy for the joyous reunion and sure hope it continues. At 9degrees I hope they are all snuggled up together. Staying warm!!

I went out to check on them and they are all still in the house, all sitting separately from one another with their bills tucked under a wing and Flipper jumping up to stand guard by the door when I came into the pen. So everything is back to normal. Flipper has always been the guard duck. So far, so good!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[Duckworth]

Flipper has been back with her sisters for three days, now. I took the crate out of the duck pen yesterday, so there is now much more floor space. Flipper’s feathers are regrowing. I do see the other ducks picking on her some, nipping at her and pushing her away from food and water, but I also see her eating and drinking. When they come out of their house in the morning, Flipper rushes right over and gobbles up as much as she can of the cat food that I have been sprinkling on top of part of their regular feed before the others start focusing on food. Flipper is the whitest and smallest of the four.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Bossy ladies. I am happy to hear Flipper is holding her own. She is looking good too. I hope you all soon get a break and the weather begins to turn warmer.

 

[Duckworth]

Bossy ladies. I am happy to hear Flipper is holding her own. She is looking good too. I hope you all soon get a break and the weather begins to turn warmer.

We are under another winter storm warning starting this afternoon. Another 3 to 8 inches of snow, with more predicted later in the week. But snow can’t keep the days from getting longer, so I’m hoping for eggs again soon.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am waiting for duck eggs too, some of my chickens have started back I got 1 chicken egg out of 21 chickens yesterday.

I didn't realize the Prairie got hit so hard.

 

[Duckworth]

I am waiting for duck eggs too, some of my chickens have started back I got 1 chicken egg out of 21 chickens yesterday.

I didn't realize the Prairie got hit so hard.

We’re in the Central Plains, so we are often just north or south of any given storm track, but this year, we have been inside at least the edges of nearly every storm track and gotten a lot more snow than in recent years. The cold is a separate issue. This year seems about average to me. I grew up in the extreme heat of the desert Southwest, so I actually like cold and snow. But as with any weather, one must take necessary safety measures.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Where we re in Western NC a lot of the systems that head towards us from the west hit the mountains and will either go north or south so a lot of times we get missed with the worse. We usually get our worse snow storms from the gulf with a lot of moisture with it. This time we are under a winter storm warning and it's coming from Gulf so no telling what we'll get. I know one thing I am sure looking forward to spring.