Thank you, I agree with you. I spent a long time thinking it up, with a little trial and error!
I agree.
Since I live in Nevada, I would have to send him to you. Can you pm a mailing address? and is it ok to ship ducks in the winter?I can't multi quote on my phone apparently but thank you for the kind words. Also, drakes are weldome feel free to being him by!
Mallards have joined my flocks this winter anyway!
I am honestly not sure about shipping birds in the winter. I'm sure it's fine. I will pm you my address we can work it out!Since I live in Nevada, I would have to send him to you. Can you pm a mailing address? and is it ok to ship ducks in the winter? here is a picture of him with my call ducks, and 1 tree duck.
I sent you a pm.
where in Nevada Do you live???Since I live in Nevada, I would have to send him to you. Can you pm a mailing address? and is it ok to ship ducks in the winter? here is a picture of him with my call ducks, and 1 tree duck.
Hello. This is very interesting. I live on a residential pond in Greenwood, Indiana. One of my neighbors put a Pekin duck on our pond last June and then ignored it, expecting it to survive on its own. I fed it all winter and so far this spring, but am drawing a lot of geese and mallards when I feed it. I sprinkle cracked corn in a spot in my yard next to the pond. I have to put down quite a bit just so the Pekin can get a little of it. This particular neighbor (the one who put the duck there!) is complaining about the geese, threatening to call the City, etc. How do you feed your ducks without drawing a large number of geese and mallards?FYI,
These birds are not dumped.
They are owned by our HOA and myself, and are used to treat the pond for algae and pond pests. We have installed both a marina de-icer and a pump to move water to keep them alive all winter (I have been doing this for several neighborhood associations including mine for 15 years now).
We have had birds disappear recently. I assure you, these birds are happy, healthy, and well cared for. I know you have the best intentions but the trouble has started with a homeowner who has made up rumors of them being dumped, attacking children, freezing on the ice, and dying.
In reality, we have had zero birds killed, but 13 ducks "rescued" and now an Emden and a Toulouse goose taken. The emden a few days ago, and the Toulouse goose a month or two ago, I thought he was our first loss to predators.
The pumps are surely evidence that running water will be provided so nothing happens to the animals, and they are fat with food and literally no birds have died.
I am sorry if I seem upset but these rumors that they were dumped were spread by an angry homeowner who has told 5 neighbors that she "allowed her dog to kill them" (not true they are all accounted for except for the 13 or so birds that were "rescued" from the pond attached to our own. This lady also tells people that the crested ducks were illegal that's why they are removed, etc. She cares not for the welfare of the ducks, the drama began when we told her children nicely to stop feeding them bread and leading them to their house (by dropping bread along the sidewalk to her home) and then feeding them at her house, and feeding them crackers and dangerous foods that could harm them, and throwing things at them. She told me "she didn't need my help parenting" and has literally not stopped doing everything she can to get them removed--- her new tactic is to tell organizations that these birds are abandoned, mistreated, and dying.
Which, could not be further from the truth. These are all male birds, I buy only males because hens don't do well in this setting, they try to nest and get eaten off of the nest. I had a Pekin drake that lived to 15 years old in another subdivision I lived in in Carmel, they thrive in the winter. In fact, we all know people keep the birds in Alaska. I lose far less birds in the winter than in the heat of the summer.
Here is the process, so everyone understands:
1) My HOA and I arranged for the use of the birds for pond maintenance and children enjoyment.
2) I purchased the animals, and raised them in my garage. Only males are used, as usually they are culled because people buy mostly hens of many breeds for egg production, the extra drakes are then culled. This is a use I found to help these animals and improve their unfortunate situation.
3) I released them to the various ponds, used my herding dogs to teach them to stay in the pond. (For the first week I come every hour to chase them in so they learn that the water is their safe haven). We lost zero birds during this transition, only lost one bird due to a car hitting it after they were taught to walk in the street. (this has been taken care of now the behavior has been stopped)
4) I feed them several times per week, as do the homeowners.
5) In October, a marina de-icer is introduced to keep the water circulating so it doesn't freeze and they don't succumb to predators.
Currently 5 communities in Carmel have domestic birds, a couple in Fishers, and I hope to help others expand. It gives these drakes a chance at life, it is a green way to clean the pond, they are beautiful and loving and the kids enjoy them, and it is a win/win for everyone.
15 years is a longer life than most people who keep birds on farms report-- and it makes sense. Racoons break in to coops, foxes and coyotes sneak in at some point, and birds are lost. On a pond, any healthy bird can escape predators on the water.
I spoke to you about all of this a couple days ago, and did my best not to be rude or upset. Again, I think you believe you're doing a "noble thing" but now that you know the facts, you need to return my animals to me and let me know who took the others.
These birds are the property of myself and my homeowners association (I have showed the police my receipts, many photos, and explained the situation). It is not your place to disagree with anything we have done and take it upon yourself to confiscate our animals. How is this different than coming to my house to take my dogs when they are on invisible fence using the restroom in the morning and then saying you won't return them?
You had a comment, you said "I feel awfully entitled to this pond" Robert, with all due respect... I pay HOA dues for this pond. I paid for the birds, their care, and their nurturing. I paid 500 dollars out of my pocket for various pumps, extension cords, and professionals. I pay taxes, this is my HOA's land, their birds, and also my birds. What you have done is essentially theft. And additionally, do you think that cramping large geese in a small crate in to your honda to your home is more ethical treatment? We have no idea what you have done with the birds, we don't know if you eat them, if they sit in a small crate in their own feces, if you sell them for profit, we have NO idea that they are safe, yet you expected us to take your word for it when my wife and I spoke to you? And you will "think about" bringing my geese and birds back?
We don't have to defend what we are doing to our birds, but did anyway because I think your heart is in the right place. I believe you that you thought you were saving them, and didn't bother to look at the evidence or do any research. If I want to cook my birds for Christmas dinner it is in my rights to do so--- although I would never harm my animals because they are my family, it is within my legal rights to do so. (Legal or not). My point is, it isn't your decision to tell someone "well I don't like how your Porsche is being driven, so I will go ahead and confiscate it and give it a better situation"
I asked for your information so I could followup with you and make sure my animals were safe and get them returned to me, and you told me you aren't giving me anything and flee'd. This makes me worry even more about my animals. If you truly care about their well-being, then you will return them. You can clearly see they were not dumped and you made an honest mistake. Rather than being ornery and feeling your entitled to my pond and my birds, please return them.
15 years is a longer life than most people who keep birds on farms report-- and it makes sense. Racoons break in to coops, foxes and coyotes sneak in at some point, and birds are lost. On a pond, any healthy bird can escape predators on the water, and do so well.
Here are photos of the water and the birds while I was raising them:
As you can see, they are fine and have plenty of water, since running water doesn't freeze pumps work fine. In fact, one pump works fine. It's all we have on our other ponds and it has worked for years. My HOA cares so much for these birds they installed a several thousand dollar marina de-icer AS WELL as me installing my pump.
Here are the geese that you took. Rex is the Emden goose, our favorite most personable bird, and the two toulouse geese are rescues from a local wildlife rehabilitation, she took them in as Canada geese and they turned out to be domestic, so we adopted them as our own. She also helps our animals with veterinary care.
Here is one of the fawn and white runners that I found out recently were taken by a rescue about 70 miles away because they were also told they were "dumped". This boy developed a small sore on his foot and we brought it to her to take to the vet to be treated. I knew they had disappeared, but recently found that the people that "rescued them" lived 70 miles away and confirmed that they were taken. I knew predators didn't take that many birds with zero evidence.
Our cat investigating the emden gosling. The cat is harmless and ended up fleeing as soon as the goose looked at him. This is my wife beginning his lifelong bond to our family.
here is some of group one a couple weeks later after a trip to the pond for fun!
Here is Rex, my goose you have, eating food and socializing his next batch of friends in May.
Here they are a couple weeks after release.
Again
The pond algae shortly after introducing my ducks
The same pond, and the same spot, 2 weeks later. (These results have been found every neighborhood community we have done this with-- and even more impressive is they have not needed to treat the pond for Algae which harms the fish, indigenous waterfowl, and ecosystem.)
My group just before some were "rescued" this summer.
Again, return my geese and any other birds of mine you have. I am missing both black and blue swedish, two fawn and white runners, three white crested, some cayuga, a buff orpington, a Rouen, and a chocolate indian runner.
Please tell me if you know who took my other drakes, if they have been placed in good homes that is OK i don't wish to cause more stress to them, but I do want to prevent more people from taking my animals, so I would like to talk to them.
People are usually the problem. I live next to the 'woman'. I loved having these ducks in the pond. I would constantly discourage people from feed the ducks from their cars. I found this post 8 years later. I was searching about ducks in Fishers. Do you know if it is okay to have 1 duck in my yard (legally/HOA covenants)? Also, a bald eagle and numerous hawks, falcons visit the area. I am not sure it would be safe.
