My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

… A reason for my wife to ban me to the duck-house!!!
Dang i'm so weak: I would let her hatch ten ducklings could she make sure that there won't be no more drakes!!! Hormones are building up here and i had to break up a couple of drake-fights this afternoon. Unfortunately Erpelchen, the Buff-Orpington (bull) has developed some kind of hatred for Limpy (mouse) and was chasing him all over the place. Can't remember how many times i hosed the bully down, but in the end the water from the hose was ice-cold…

Yes, you do need to thin your drakes out a bit. I wouldn’t be able to stand the fighting. That makes me a nervous wreck! Really it makes me freak out.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Don't worry, i had several relatives with diabetes. That is my nightmare, i am afraid of needles for real! Passed out a couple of times during blood sampling…

Ouch. I've found that the needles used on my insulin pens aren't that bad, unless you happen to poke a nerve, but the bigger ones used for drawing blood samples consistently hurt a bit. It's a weird feeling, too, having something under your skin... the rubber band that they use on the upper arm feels funny, too. But, it's quick, and important to find out whether or not I have some blood disease or chemical imbalance -- the kind of info that they can't get from just the little prick they do to test my HbA1c.
But, I digress. I... think. Anyway, just stay calm in the presence of needles, look away, and think of ducks. Big ducks, little ducks, call ducks -- basically little ducks, I know -- roast ducks.
(That's something that I've never had, actually -- roast duck. I hear that it's all dark meat).

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Hershey is precious and I love to watch her flap her wings and s-t-r-e-t-c-h. She is so tall. And those Hershey Kiss feet!

I have had more interaction with Petey the white layer, but that’s only because she has been more forward than the others. For two days I’ve mostly dealt with the sick one so I’ve not really pursued any of the others until today. But I can tell they are all starting to come around.

My intent is for them all to be very people friendly. I mean, it’s not like I don’t already have 20+ chickens all under my feet and in my way now. What’s six more ducks?

My little sidekick decided he would spend the night with me the past two nights so he could get up and immediately see the ducklings, so I’ve not had good one on one time with the babies yet. Maybe starting tomorrow though. As I do with my chickens, I just love sitting and watching the ducklings.

Let’s see how tomorrow progresses. DH has to work so that’ll leave me able to just sit with them. I think they will all take turn about getting to know me, and me getting to know them!

The four White Layers are still the most friendly ducks of my flock! They have been the sassiest ducklings of all, it was them who pulled the tarp down in my cardboard/tarp garage brooder, allowing all ducklings to chew through the cardboard and poop all over the garage…
The Buff Orpingtons were "chicken" ducklings, they'd rather drown instead of being picked up by the axe-murderer and being carefully dried with a towel. Even as adult ducks they don't eat treats out of my hands.
And the Black Swedish are the most talkative ducks i have ever seen. Always peeping, squeaking, creaking, quacking and grunting. Even at night when they sleep!
Petey will jump in your hands for food, i'm sure!

 

[Mimi13]

For real? - Five shots a day?!?
Mom was always worried i might try psychoactive substances (aka dr*gs)! I really calmed her down by explaining her that i'd be too scared of the needles to even think of it. (Heroin was a terrible problem in Germany during the 70's and 80's!)

Well, we’re thankful you are still here with us today!

 

[Knighstar679]

My bigger drake keeps going after my smaller ducks here in the last week. At times he’s great very gentle with his girl but when it come to the black East Indies it’s like he goes all leg breaker on them he grabs them so hard. He spent last night in jail for it. Woke up and found his girl sitting with him this morning. He was on his best behavior today I was told.

 

[duluthralphie]

Tell that to my neighbors: They selected six eggs from my ducks and stuffed them under their broody chicken and out came four drakes and one duck! - The reason for a drake to duck ration of 1:2.5 - i need at least six more ducks here…

 

[DuckGirl77]

The possibility of no more drakes is best if you hatch no eggs ..

no hatching=no happiness
So clearly there is only one option

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes, you do need to thin your drakes out a bit. I wouldn’t be able to stand the fighting. That makes me a nervous wreck! Really it makes me freak out.

Drake fights are not as bad as cockfights: Usually there are two drakes pushing each other, chest to chest back and forth, the inferior just turns around suddenly and runs away. The bad thing is when they attack each other during mating. Duck 3X is already clumsy and when two drakes try to drag the third one off the duck...
Thinning out the drakes isn't an option here! Never name your food. I broke this rule and now it is too late. The only option is more ducks. And a larger duck-house with enough room for triple numbers of ducks… (Did i mention that people think i'm crazy...)

 

[DuckGirl77]

I feel ya. I got a horrible ratio of 5 drakes to 2 females a few years ago. Luckily I found a nice new home for the boys but it's hard for sure when they're pets

So....
when are you getting these new ducks?

 

[duluthralphie]

Drake fights are not as bad as cockfights: Usually there are two drakes pushing each other, chest to chest back and forth, the inferior just turns around suddenly and runs away. The bad thing is when they attack each other during mating. Duck 3X is already clumsy and when two drakes try to drag the third one off the duck...
Thinning out the drakes isn't an option here! Never name your food. I broke this rule and now it is too late. The only option is more ducks. And a larger duck-house with enough room for triple numbers of ducks… (Did i mention that people think i'm crazy...)

I can show you a real bird fight.
I have a hen and rooster that hate each other..