Muscovy won't abandon rotten nest!

[awarmrainyday]

Miss Lydia, it really is such a shame. I have reported him several times and spoken directly to the township and the humane society and they have done nothing. I've been told he has gone to other neighbors houses that have his livestock and demanded to have them back. He's never been to my house and he obviously knows I have some of his chickens and ducks. But I've already confirmed with the local authorities that wandering ducks and chickens are considered abandoned and if he doesn't claim them right away he can't come and take them back. He is not welcome on my property and there is a sign out notifying unwelcomed guests that they will be greeted with my handgun and 230 pound guard dog.

As long as he is down the road I will be rescuing anything that comes my way. My stepdaughter says I'm "practically a vet" because I have a bag by the door full of medical supplies always ready to go. I never know when I'm going to need it and I have to be prepared to handle literally anything you could think of. It is hard some days because some of them show up beyond help. And then ones like Goldie (the malnourished hen on the side of the road) show up. When I first picked her up thinking she was dead she was so fearful of people she tried to peck the crap out of me. Today she was running after me pestering for treats. She had a visit with the chickens outside and when a rooster came after her she ran to me to be picked up. In a few weeks when she's stronger I'll integrate her into the flock, but for now she stays in the garage and helps me build new nesting boxes in the evenings.

My muscovy under the fuel tank is happily sitting on the three eggs I gave her. I'm really hoping it works out for her this time. My other momma muscovy is highly upset with me right now. A nice couple came and got 12 of her 13 ducklings. I kept one for her (and me!). But she is MAD. She sat in their pen for awhile. Then sat on the fence and glared at me. Then sat on the gate and glared at me. This morning I found her back in the small hen house sitting in the corner where she hatched them. I was very happy that the couple just wanted them for the pond on their property (and not to eat them), but now I feel horrible!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@awarmrainyday so relieved you are there for them when they come your way. Sad no one has done anything about it.

I have sold ducklings before and had mamas mad at me, one reason why I don't let them sit and hatch when ever they take a notion. They will get over it and letting her keep one is what I do here too. The only way they get to sit and hatch is if someone contacts me and asks if I have ducklings, this year my one duck who has sat before 3 yrs ago got to hatch some Muscovy's for a member and I had 2 of my first time mama Muscovy's hatch me some Runners and Buffs so 2 that are 3 and 5 yrs old finally got to sit and hatch ducklings. I practice birth control here which means I take up eggs as soon as laid or shortly there after.

That is awesome you had someone who wanted some ducklings. Hopefully you'll find some more great homes for them that need them. Muscovy's are such great ducks people need to know this.

 

[awarmrainyday]

@Miss Lydia I was taking all their eggs but all of them are completely free range right now and these three girls snuck nests in on me and I didn't find them until they were already sitting! We just completed a much bigger coop and I'm currently working on a big attached run. Once that is completed everyone will be moving in and I think it'll be a lot easier to find their hiding spots. It will also be a lot easier to catch some of the them who don't like being touched so I can work on finding them homes-- and actually being able to catch them when someone comes to get them!

I had chickens when I was little and pestered my husband for several years to allow me to get them. I never saw myself as a duck person, but when the ducks and chickens started showing up my husband had no choice but to let me keep them. He is smart enough to know nothing stands between me and helping a sick animal. Now I have ODD- obsessive duck disorder. I've already got plans for three sided duck shelters, a covered feeder station, and a decent sized plastic pond form with a drain...But first things first, I've got to finish this run!

And I'm so very thankful for Backyard Chickens and all the wonderful and useful advice and help provided!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Miss Lydia I was taking all their eggs but all of them are completely free range right now and these three girls snuck nests in on me and I didn't find them until they were already sitting! We just completed a much bigger coop and I'm currently working on a big attached run. Once that is completed everyone will be moving in and I think it'll be a lot easier to find their hiding spots. It will also be a lot easier to catch some of the them who don't like being touched so I can work on finding them homes-- and actually being able to catch them when someone comes to get them!

I had chickens when I was little and pestered my husband for several years to allow me to get them. I never saw myself as a duck person, but when the ducks and chickens started showing up my husband had no choice but to let me keep them. He is smart enough to know nothing stands between me and helping a sick animal. Now I have ODD- obsessive duck disorder. I've already got plans for three sided duck shelters, a covered feeder station, and a decent sized plastic pond form with a drain...But first things first, I've got to finish this run!

And I'm so very thankful for Backyard Chickens and all the wonderful and useful advice and help provided!

@awarmrainyday I can understand not being able to find eggs with all you have. Once you get them set up it will be easier. I only have 18 ducks and 7 of them are scovy so I have taught them to lay in their houses by blocking off all their hidy holes. it use to be a challege when I had more but Most of my old ones have gone on now. Be sure to post pics once you get things finished it will be inspiring for others just starting out.

 

[awarmrainyday]

Well the momma from under the fuel tank sat on the nest for two days and abandoned it. Now she will not come down from the flat lean to wood shed roof on the back of my house. This is her second day up there and even shaking the feed bucket doesn't bring her like it always does. The drakes have been picking on her something horrible and I have a feeling that is why, so I broke down and put a dish of food and a bucket of water up there for her. It's been hot out but thankfully that part of the house is under trees and she's shaded. She just looks absolutely heartbroken and miserable that she didn't hatch ducklings.

Momma duck who hatched 14 babies in the wood shed has them out and running around now. I did find a good home for five of them, momma duck has turned psycho and I had to have my husband run interference so I could get five of her ducklings. I found it somewhat funny though. She's flogged me several times already so I just sort of deflect her with my knee or point my finger at her and tell her no and she backs up. My husband, who is a big bearded truck driver, is behind me nervously saying, "she's coming...she's coming...hurry up! If she comes at me I'm running!" All big and tough until he's facing a mad momma duck. She's been mad at me ever since, I got flogged this morning for trying to help one of her ducklings out of the water dish.

Now the momma duck who I let keep one of her 4 week old ducklings has decided she is not mothering anymore and is ignoring her baby. I went to check on them last night and found her duckling under psycho momma. I watched the duckling make friends with the younger ones yesterday so I assume when his momma didn't come back to his nest at bedtime he just went over to her. She had her wing tucked over him so I assume she either welcomed him in or didn't notice that he wasn't hers. I honestly wondered if she noticed that I took five of her ducklings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well the momma from under the fuel tank sat on the nest for two days and abandoned it. Now she will not come down from the flat lean to wood shed roof on the back of my house. This is her second day up there and even shaking the feed bucket doesn't bring her like it always does. The drakes have been picking on her something horrible and I have a feeling that is why, so I broke down and put a dish of food and a bucket of water up there for her. It's been hot out but thankfully that part of the house is under trees and she's shaded. She just looks absolutely heartbroken and miserable that she didn't hatch ducklings.

Momma duck who hatched 14 babies in the wood shed has them out and running around now. I did find a good home for five of them, momma duck has turned psycho and I had to have my husband run interference so I could get five of her ducklings. I found it somewhat funny though. She's flogged me several times already so I just sort of deflect her with my knee or point my finger at her and tell her no and she backs up. My husband, who is a big bearded truck driver, is behind me nervously saying, "she's coming...she's coming...hurry up! If she comes at me I'm running!" All big and tough until he's facing a mad momma duck. She's been mad at me ever since, I got flogged this morning for trying to help one of her ducklings out of the water dish.

Now the momma duck who I let keep one of her 4 week old ducklings has decided she is not mothering anymore and is ignoring her baby. I went to check on them last night and found her duckling under psycho momma. I watched the duckling make friends with the younger ones yesterday so I assume when his momma didn't come back to his nest at bedtime he just went over to her. She had her wing tucked over him so I assume she either welcomed him in or didn't notice that he wasn't hers. I honestly wondered if she noticed that I took five of her ducklings.

Hilarious big bad truck driver. lol So sounds like a 3 ring circus there I had one hear back in early May when I had 3 Scovy moms and I had to get all the ducklings back with their rightful mamas when they would bring them outside. One mama knew she only had dark colored babies too. I am sure each mom got to have the dark colored ones at least 1-2 times since I couldn't tell the apart I guess they couldn't either because they would accept them but only the 2 moms who had the lights would accept them. I don't think I'll let more than one sit at a time. I'm sorry for you mama that didn't hatch any and that is getting picked on by the drakes. I hope she isn't sick just sick and tired of them messing with her.

Your doing a great job finding home for the ducklings hope it keeps up. Watch out for psycho mama

 

[awarmrainyday]

It is a three ring circus! It sounds like only certain momma's know which babies are theirs, otherwise they just mother any and all of them. It is stressful but I have enjoyed watching their different parenting styles and how they communicate with their ducklings. I don't think the duck on the roof is sick, I think she is depressed. I just don't know what to do to get her to get over her loss.

Off the duck topic, but I had two bantam hens go broody on a nest together and I let them keep four eggs. One egg rotted, one vanished into thin air (haven't found a trace of it), one hatched injured and died, and one tiny all black chick hatched perfectly. She is a little bigger than a golf ball and is the apple of both of her mothers' eyes. I can sit and watch them together for hours, two momma's together fussing over one tiny little chick. They take turns with everything from taking her from the nest to eat and drink to who she sleeps under. It is so darn adorable I can hardly stand it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is a three ring circus! It sounds like only certain momma's know which babies are theirs, otherwise they just mother any and all of them. It is stressful but I have enjoyed watching their different parenting styles and how they communicate with their ducklings. I don't think the duck on the roof is sick, I think she is depressed. I just don't know what to do to get her to get over her loss.

Off the duck topic, but I had two bantam hens go broody on a nest together and I let them keep four eggs. One egg rotted, one vanished into thin air (haven't found a trace of it), one hatched injured and died, and one tiny all black chick hatched perfectly. She is a little bigger than a golf ball and is the apple of both of her mothers' eyes. I can sit and watch them together for hours, two momma's together fussing over one tiny little chick. They take turns with everything from taking her from the nest to eat and drink to who she sleeps under. It is so darn adorable I can hardly stand it.

How precious, It's been a long time but 1X I had some bantam hens share co mama duties with some chicks it was so precious. I am glad your mamas are sharing duties and not fighting over this little one. Enjoy I'd rather sit outside with my flock of birds than sit in the house any day. lol

 

[awarmrainyday]

Yep! If my husband comes home and can't find me in the house he knows where to find me. One day he caught me digging for worms and conversating with the chickens and ducks over said worms. He thought I was nuts.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep! If my husband comes home and can't find me in the house he knows where to find me. One day he caught me digging for worms and conversating with the chickens and ducks over said worms. He thought I was nuts.

Mine thinks I am too, nothing more fun than digging for worms or turning over rocks looking for them. We have our own special club. The Nutty duck/chicken ladies.