Finally rounded up!

[Imquackingup]

They might not be as hungry now because when they were on the pond, they were likely burning lots of calories swimming constantly. Now they've got the good life of being couch potatoes. Mine don't seem to be going through feed as fast as they were in the summer. I thought they'd eat more in the winter to stay warm, but I think they actually ate more in the summer. They used to free range over several acres but now that we've got 18 inches of snow, they only go a few hundred feet along the shoveled paths. I guess they don't work up much of an appetite.

(Theoretically they should eat less feed when free ranging, because they should be eating bugs and such, but my birds are free loaders who periodically go back to their house and shovel in tons of food rather than living off the land!)

I was kinda thinking that too, because they swam constantly on the pond.I noticed them picking at a hay bale tonight,don't know what they could be trying eat there. They were mad at me today because I left them locked in their pen thats attached to the coop while I was at work because there has been a hawk circling the past few days. They sure were loud when I got home.Lol I feel bad because they really can't move around much but I can't watch them if I'm not here right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I was kinda thinking that too, because they swam constantly on the pond.I noticed them picking at a hay bale tonight,don't know what they could be trying eat there. They were mad at me today because I left them locked in their pen thats attached to the coop while I was at work because there has been a hawk circling the past few days. They sure were loud when I got home.Lol I feel bad because they really can't move around much but I can't watch them if I'm not here right?

Right. You know what's best for them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will try to figure out how to post pics as soon as I get a moment to myself. My mother has been sick so its get up, take care of ducks, go to work, go shopping, come home feed Mom , feed /care for ducks, dishes laundry,bed, then repeat .Lol My daughter also surprised us with a 6 month old kitten that she had to rehome cuz she wasn't getting along with her older 2 cats. Hmm she's not "getting along" with my 3 cats and dog either .Lol I tried the rolled oats and blueberries tonight,and have given them oyster shell and mealworms that they hate too.I'm about to make a feeder out of a tote but not sure what to put in it. They wont eat the poultry feed I've bought, maybe I should just give them that alone for a day or two huh?

p.s. I think George is a girl LMAO!

Georgette.

I would just put there reg feed in and let them decide if they want to eat or be hungry.

You sound very busy I hope your mom feels better real soon.

Hope kitty settles in soon.

 

[Imquackingup]

Georgette.

I would just put there reg feed in and let them decide if they want to eat or be hungry.

You sound very busy I hope your mom feels better real soon.

Hope kitty settles in soon.

Can I ask a dumb question? One of the males keeps "raping" the smallest females and is seems like he's hurting her and sometimes the other male joins in.They don't go after the other two girls just her. Are the harming her or stressing her out too much? They chase her constantly. She looks so beat down.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can I ask a dumb question? One of the males keeps "raping" the smallest females and is seems like he's hurting her and sometimes the other male joins in.They don't go after the other two girls just her. Are the harming her or stressing her out too much? They chase her constantly. She looks so beat down.

I'd give the boys some time out in a separate area. This will give your girls a chance to recover. It's hard when they single out one female and keep at her it really does stress the females out and if they can get her in a pool they may drown her trying to mate with her at the same time.

Duck sex is rough anyway but some drakes carry it to extreme. She needs a break from them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Imquackingup How are things going at your place?

 

[Imquackingup]

@Imquackingup How are things going at your place?

Well Miss Lydia, let me tell ya!!!! Argghhhhhhhh........ They are driving me nuts. Curly and Bing are still chasing Dot and hurting her. I separate her then she gets depressed and wants to be with the others.I put one of the other girls with her and they quack non stop like they want to be out with the Drakes. As soon as I let them out, they go after Dot again .Curly is worse than Bing but Bing is no saint. We're getting 3 eggs a day, I think Dot is laying 2 each day and Bopper the other one. The boys don't go after "george" and I can't figure why cuz she's the same age as the other girls. Do you think it would be wise to try and rehome Curly? Do you think Curly is extra rough because Bing is there too? Have you ever eaten Duck eggs? Are they much different from chicken eggs? So many questions lol.

 

[Adalida]

I was hoping your drakes would settle down and not be like mine...I used to have 3 drakes. Like yours, mine were rescues; I hadn't really wanted boys. I had plenty of females for them, but they would completely ignore some of the girls and constantly harass some of the others. I got rid of the most aggressive drake, who was actually my favorite, but then another drake decided to take his place and be the dominant one. I now have only one drake, who is a pansy and gets bossed by all the girls.

Here's my girl Frankie. One day, both drakes piled on her and tore out a ton of her wing feathers and made a huge bald spot on her head. She basically didn't have any wings left. This was the first time I'd seen the two remaining boys act like that. I got rid of the dominant drake and kept the submissive one on probation. I would have gotten rid of him too, except that he is a smaller drake and doesn't have a size advantage over the girls like the other drakes did.

This is what she looked like before the boys did their damage.

 

[Adalida]

In your shoes, I'd rehome Curly and see if Bing settles down once he's the only drake and doesn't have competition for the girls. It's hard to do, but poor Dot might end up like my Frankie if they get too rough with her. Frankie actually got much happier and friendlier once the dominant drake was gone.

Duck eggs are wonderful! Some people don't like them but I think they're absolutely delicious. I mainly fried mine in butter, over easy, and put them on hash browns or toast. I love them because the yolk is so big and that's my favorite part of an egg. My ducks stopped laying for the winter and I really miss their eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Imquackingup I agree with all @Adalida said best to find a home for Curly and hopefully Bing will settle down.Only other thing you can do is divide your pen boys on one side girls on the other.

It's a hard thing to do but for the safety of the girls we have to make tough decisions at times. Thankfully none of my Muscovy's ever ganged up on a female but the fighting between the drakes is what led me to have to rehome.

Ducks eggs also are awesome in baked goods too. Enjoy!!