Duck rescue

[Cerelia]

Daffodil update!

Yay, she is standing up a lot more! She is also very talkative. All good signs!

She gets to roam the porch today. Hubby worked all night on it. My sister's entire family will be here tomorrow, so installing a fenced enclosure got nixed until next week. I will put her in a cage at night this week.

While I was writing this, I heard a thunk...turned around, looked in the cage...we have another egg. I retrieved this one just now.

 

[Amiga]

So, so good to read the report on Daffodil this morning!

Regarding fence, I have seen the recommendation a number of times to have at least three feet of half inch hardware cloth along the woven wire or chain link, to keep grubby little paws from reaching in and harming birds. Ducks often decide to nap by leaning right up against the fence. So if they are dozing, something could get at them. Weasels, I am told, can get through a one inch diameter opening. That sounds extreme to me, but I am not going to risk my ducks' welfare.

Five feet off the ground sounds like you will eliminate many potential problems, and you are right - possums and others climb.

 

[Cerelia]

Oh, I do thank you for that advice. Keeping her safe is going to be a chore, isn't it?!

We have a haphazard chain link fence the prior owners put next to an old horse barn, but it is too far from the house and not secure enough. I want her closer to the house. I will also have to put something over it, because there are more hawks and eagles around here than you can count.

I need to get a mirror for her, too. She is used to having a comrade.

You will laugh at this...hubby found an old blow-up pool in the barn when he was fixing the porch. I figure that will last about 30 minutes. The problem with the tuff tub is that we have to put her in and out of it...too tall when sitting at ground level.

We have one other predator...maybe, and it is a really bad one. At one time there was someone over the state line (and we back up to it) who raised Pumas (mountain lions, depending on which part of the country you hail from) and periodically let them out. Errrrrrrrrr. When we first moved here I got a glimpse of one crossing our road at night. One other time I heard it. Haven't heard it for years now, so hopefully it is gone.

I also probably need to ground the fence since we get lightening strikes out here.

So much to think about for seven pounds of fluff!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Probably Flockraiser for the feed name. As for parasites, ducks can get parasites both internal and external! they are more resistant to external parasites with swimming/bathing water. some people worm their birds at least once a year, others only when they see signs of problems and some never do.

 

[cityguyks]

I have a question. I built a chicken coop out of a shed for my mother in-law. She has one chicken right now but now wants ducks can you have ducks and chickens togther. I have heard differnt answers.

 

[Wifezilla]

You can...just realize that ducks are messy with their water. With some planning they can be roomies.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Yes you can but sometimes they don't get along to well.

 

[Cerelia]

Another question. The wood underneath her is old treated lumber, so we put plastic tarps on top to put a barrier between Daffodil and the arsenic-treated wood. I put a bowl of sand out for her for grit...is that OK or is there something better?

That poor girl is very gimp. : (

 

[Amiga]

It is so heartening to see you paying such close attention to her!

As an adult duck, I think something a little larger than sand would be more appropriate for her. I buy grit from the local farm n feed store. It is very inexpensive and a little seems to go a long way. If she gets to a point where she can forage outdoors during the day some, she will likely pick up most of what she needs. But if she needs to stay in mostly, I'd give her a little adult grit free choice. During laying times, crushed oyster shell can do a little double-duty (provide calcium and act as grit). I won't go as far as to say it is a good long-term substitute for grit, but if you have crushed oyster shell now that will help her out as grit until you can find some granite or similar grit.

 

[Overeasyplz]

what a great duck story! I am so glad you took her in. My lonley mallard duck Draminoe is a rescue duck. She was a last easter's pet that was kept in a bucket, she could hardly walk when I got her. She is running around the yard with the chickens though now, she made a complete recovery! I bought her two new freinds today that are peeping away in their brooder right now, I am already in duckie love