Keeping a watchful and documented eye on a newly born Muscovy clutch

[Miss Lydia]

They are all gorgeous

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 20th: (Day 9, 9 ducklings)


Had a lot going on so I forgot the update yesterday. So they popped back up thankfully and they all seem noticeably bigger. I may have figured out why sometimes they go MIA. Mama is really good about keeping them out of the open and in bushes/trees as well as only being near the lake for a small amount of time. I've not observed another hen doing that around here. Usually they stick to ground right beside the lake 24/7. These babies travel but from cover to cover lol

Video debut: Ducklings on the march!!!

Don't know for sure but I think that hen on the top left is related to our mama. She took an aggressive stance toward it but did not peck or attempt to get a feather souvenir like she usually does toward other hens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The mama looks so much like my Ruth I lost last year at age 15.
What a sweet family

 

[GirlsMommy18]

September 20th: (Day 9, 9 ducklings)


Had a lot going on so I forgot the update yesterday. So they popped back up thankfully and they all seem noticeably bigger. I may have figured out why sometimes they go MIA. Mama is really good about keeping them out of the open and in bushes/trees as well as only being near the lake for a small amount of time. I've not observed another hen doing that around here. Usually they stick to ground right beside the lake 24/7. These babies travel but from cover to cover lol

Video debut: Ducklings on the march!!!

Don't know for sure but I think that hen on the top left is related to our mama. She took an aggressive stance toward it but did not peck or attempt to get a feather souvenir like she usually does toward other hens.

View attachment 3948544

That teaching is most likely why she still has so many babies still! Great Momma! Hopefully her methods continue to be so successful. Looking forward to your updates on the adorable family

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 21st: (Day 10, 9 ducklings)


Updates are a day late due to a busy weekend. I had planned to do a half day "follow" along where I follow them at a greater distance (So as not to influence their movement/actions) and document a "day in the life" of a family of ducks but that might have to wait until next weekend.

On a side note, I've got a friend who has a small farm near a small lake. Due to certain laws I have to be vague but some weird big ducks were killed by a development construction company building houses on the other side of the lake and some things were left behind. So I've been helping him monitor some things in a machine and reading up on tons of pages about it here in the forum.

Anyways..

Babies found some muddy water and some new animals.

Unidentified animal troops. Proceed with caution!

Execute evasive maneuvers! Geese inbound!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 22nd: (Day 11, 9 ducklings)


These ducklings are growing and getting brave! Got some great pictures/videos today. I might be a bit dramatic here but it feels like I am watching something special with this mama/duckling family with how shes keeping this many alive through 11 days. (*knocks on wood twice*).

Not only alive but they really look happy. Look at that one at the bottom. Capturing this is why I do what I do.

Troops!!! Surround the giant!!!!

Putting the water in waterfowl.

I probably deserve to be chastised for this but I sat down and the babies walked up to me. I reached out my hand they pecked my finger. I kept an eye on mama to make sure I didn't make her mad lest I get the claws and wings lol

(I think some people around here are feeding them everyday unfortunately which is causing them to be super friendly to me. This behavior doesn't make sense otherwise despite how cute and wholesome it is)

Today was a good day.

 

[Zombie duck]

Otters ate my wood ducks one year...look out

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 23rd: (Day 12, 9 ducklings)


Today was one of them days.

Ducklings were stalked by an eagle today for a couple hours. It flew by overhead and we kept watch. I couldn't take a good video or picture because I had a rock in one hand ready to see if the eagle was ready to find out. Like I said before, Any other way but an eagle/hawk/vulture. Unfortunately I had to camp outside for a few hours lol

The day unfortunately started with seeing mama run up toward me without any ducklings and looking frazzled. My heart sort of sank. I don't want to sound insane but it kind of felt like she saw me and wanted me to follow. So I did.

One of her ducklings was stuck at the bank and couldn't get up to follow the rest. 8 of them huddled at the top and one stuck in the water/mud.

Alright troops. Heres your mission!! We gotta walk Casanova down the riverbank until we reach more favorable ground so he can rejoin the troop. Move out!

Shortly after solving that issue the Eagle decided to crash the party. I was able to confirm the duckling did not fall behind because it was weak or something was wrong. It seemed like the runt and the riverbank was too verticle for it. I witnessed the rest of the squad struggle getting up it a couple days ago.

Well continuing the theme of today, We got a bigger problem mama!

not gonna get specific about where I am on this but I'll just say theres a 95% chance we lose some if not most of them if this track and intensity play out as pictured.

I'm not sure what (if anything) I can do that respects the laws and makes sense. If anyone has any advice, Im all ears. (or eyes)

 

[Miss Lydia]

September 23rd: (Day 12, 9 ducklings)


Today was one of them days.

Ducklings were stalked by an eagle today for a couple hours. It flew by overhead and we kept watch. I couldn't take a good video or picture because I had a rock in one hand ready to see if the eagle was ready to find out. Like I said before, Any other way but an eagle/hawk/vulture. Unfortunately I had to camp outside for a few hours lol

View attachment 3950451

The day unfortunately started with seeing mama run up toward me without any ducklings and looking frazzled. My heart sort of sank. I don't want to sound insane but it kind of felt like she saw me and wanted me to follow. So I did.

View attachment 3950453

One of her ducklings was stuck at the bank and couldn't get up to follow the rest. 8 of them huddled at the top and one stuck in the water/mud.

View attachment 3950462

Alright troops. Heres your mission!! We gotta walk Casanova down the riverbank until we reach more favorable ground so he can rejoin the troop. Move out!

Shortly after solving that issue the Eagle decided to crash the party. I was able to confirm the duckling did not fall behind because it was weak or something was wrong. It seemed like the runt and the riverbank was too verticle for it. I witnessed the rest of the squad struggle getting up it a couple days ago.

Well continuing the theme of today, We got a bigger problem mama!

View attachment 3950469

not gonna get specific about where I am on this but I'll just say theres a 95% chance we lose some if not most of them if this track and intensity play out as pictured.

I'm not sure what (if anything) I can do that respects the laws and makes sense. If anyone has any advice, Im all ears. (or eyes)

@ruthhope

 

[ruthhope]

September 23rd: (Day 12, 9 ducklings)


Today was one of them days.

Ducklings were stalked by an eagle today for a couple hours. It flew by overhead and we kept watch. I couldn't take a good video or picture because I had a rock in one hand ready to see if the eagle was ready to find out. Like I said before, Any other way but an eagle/hawk/vulture. Unfortunately I had to camp outside for a few hours lol

View attachment 3950451

The day unfortunately started with seeing mama run up toward me without any ducklings and looking frazzled. My heart sort of sank. I don't want to sound insane but it kind of felt like she saw me and wanted me to follow. So I did.

View attachment 3950453

One of her ducklings was stuck at the bank and couldn't get up to follow the rest. 8 of them huddled at the top and one stuck in the water/mud.

View attachment 3950462

Alright troops. Heres your mission!! We gotta walk Casanova down the riverbank until we reach more favorable ground so he can rejoin the troop. Move out!

Shortly after solving that issue the Eagle decided to crash the party. I was able to confirm the duckling did not fall behind because it was weak or something was wrong. It seemed like the runt and the riverbank was too verticle for it. I witnessed the rest of the squad struggle getting up it a couple days ago.

Well continuing the theme of today, We got a bigger problem mama!

View attachment 3950469

not gonna get specific about where I am on this but I'll just say theres a 95% chance we lose some if not most of them if this track and intensity play out as pictured.

I'm not sure what (if anything) I can do that respects the laws and makes sense. If anyone has any advice, Im all ears. (or eyes)

Yes, we are like to get the spin off winds and rain from the storm blowing up fast in the Gulf. And I had arranged to let your first two ducks free tomorrow on a private pond. Your original two can fly now and are in danger staying inside the screened porch if they fly into the screens.

My own ducks come into the house and into my bathroom if we are near the eye of a storm. If we are under mandatory evacuation, I will take them in pet carriers to my son's house that is not in a mandatory evacuation zone. But the ducks have to stay in the pet carriers there as my son's own ducks are in his bath. That has not happened yet.

As for wild ducks and ducklings, they hunker down in vegetation. I worry that there is not much natural shrubbery around your ducks. There is really nothing you can do to help, just know that muscovy are resilient.