My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

Petey decided to take her snooze standing up!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

So I guess ducks are much more protective of their babies than chickens. I reach in underneath and get their chicks to look at. Obviously ducks do not appreciate that invasion.

If you love your fingers and skin don't ever try to reach under a brood duck!
And often it is not only the broody duck itself: Most of my flock were keeping an eye on Katharinas babies last year, protected and herded them back to momma when they were crying.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Petey decided to take her snooze standing up!View attachment 2171271

My White Layers do that a lot! Alba sometimes sleeps on one leg. Of the others, only Katharina (F&W Runner) does that.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

My White Layers do that a lot! Alba sometimes sleeps on one leg. Of the others, only Katharina (F&W Runner) does that.

Talking about Alba Duck:

Yesterday was a terrible Day: Alba Duck disappeared!​

I heart a commotion outside, then all of the ducks started their alarm-quack. Rushed outside and sam - nothing! But the crows in the trees of the neighbors property were crowing their alarm too…
Started to count and noticed that one of the While Layers was missing:
Alba Duck is gone!
The crazy thing is that this - once again - has happened while they were close to the house and not free-ranging. I don't let them free range at the moment as the four little ducklings are running around with them. I have no set up my trail camera to see what is lurking around here.
Pictures of Alba: https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/alba-duck.7429274/

 

[Mimi13]

If you love your fingers and skin don't ever try to reach under a brood duck!
And often it is not only the broody duck itself: Most of my flock were keeping an eye on Katharinas babies last year, protected and herded them back to momma when they were crying.

That is so sweet they take care of them. My chickens don’t even do that. Some are indifferent about new chicks while others can be quite mean. The rooster, however, is very good with the babies. I thought I had read somewhere that drakes are very mean to ducklings, to the point of killing them. Which brings me to this question.

I think Latte might possibly be male. I’ll still call her a ‘she’ for right now, though! But, first thing I noticed was her quack sounds completely different than the other four. When they are all quacking you cannot hear Latte, at all. It’s a completely different sound. She has always seemed a little more aggressive toward the chickens. And then yesterday, she went after the week old chicks and their momma. No one got hurt, but maybe only because I intervened, who knows. I’ve tried to get several videos with her quacking, but the other drown her out.

 

[duluthralphie]

That is so sweet they take care of them. My chickens don’t even do that. Some are indifferent about new chicks while others can be quite mean. The rooster, however, is very good with the babies. I thought I had read somewhere that drakes are very mean to ducklings, to the point of killing them. Which brings me to this question.

I think Latte might possibly be male. I’ll still call her a ‘she’ for right now, though! But, first thing I noticed was her quack sounds completely different than the other four. When they are all quacking you cannot hear Latte, at all. It’s a completely different sound. She has always seemed a little more aggressive toward the chickens. And then yesterday, she went after the week old chicks and their momma. No one got hurt, but maybe only because I intervened, who knows. I’ve tried to get several videos with her quacking, but the other drown her out.

It has become apparent to me, as a neutral observer, the only good dux are drakes named Ralphie.

if you legally change his name you might have a good one there.

 

[Mimi13]

Talking about Alba Duck:

Yesterday was a terrible Day: Alba Duck disappeared!​

I heart a commotion outside, then all of the ducks started their alarm-quack. Rushed outside and sam - nothing! But the crows in the trees of the neighbors property were crowing their alarm too…
Started to count and noticed that one of the While Layers was missing:
Alba Duck is gone!
The crazy thing is that this - once again - has happened while they were close to the house and not free-ranging. I don't let them free range at the moment as the four little ducklings are running around with them. I have no set up my trail camera to see what is lurking around here.
Pictures of Alba: https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/alba-duck.7429274/

I am so so sorry. This is terrible. I have been way too fortunate, but I know my time is coming.

Monday was a terrible hawk day here. Rusty, my roo, was busy sounding alarms nearly all day. (The ducks even stop dead still and look when he sounds off a predator alarm. I do too!) Anyway, I heard a terrible commotion with the geese and goslings down at the pond and ran around front to see what was going on. One of the goslings had been attacked by a hawk. (They are a little over 5 weeks old. April 30th is when they were escorted from their nest to the ponds...across the highway at that!) It was flailing around in the water and both parents were tag teaming trying to get it out. It was absolutely amazing, and heartbreaking, seeing these two parents do everything they could to get the little one out of the pond, while the other three stood by patiently watching. The adults would get close to the little one and, by thrashing their wings, ‘washed’ the gosling up on the bank. Needless to say the hawk was lurking about in the tree above the pond, just waiting for another chance.

The baby’s leg for sure is injured and possibly a wing as well. It seems to be getting worse and can only one or two steps at a time. I want to help it. I don’t want the hawk to win.

I contacted the game wardens’ office yesterday to see if they could come get it. I was told that if it had been a hawk, eagle or owl, they and the lady from the rehabilitation place would come and retrieve it. But since geese have a ‘season’ (for hunting), they don’t come get them, rather letting nature take its course. I told them I wanted to try to help it and was told I could. If I thought I could catch it and help it to go ahead, even if it meant that the goose lived out its life here, if it was unable to fly...just as long as I didn’t cage it.

Now, the $64,000 question is, can we get it without getting attacked ourselves. I’m afraid if I wait any longer it might not respond to healing, or even living.

Any thoughts?

 

[Mimi13]

It has become apparent to me, as a neutral observer, the only good dux are drakes named Ralphie.

if you legally change his name you might have a good one there.

Oh Lordy, you’re a hoot and that’s a deal! If Latte turns out to be a male I will rename her...in your honor!

 

[Mimi13]

Now for some long overdue videos from this week:

The dang Ducks Finally Find The Chicken Run.

I was in the chicken run checking on my newest four chicks and all of a sudden the incessant quacking got louder. Yep, they thought nothing of coming right on in.

 

[Mimi13]

The Ducks Scoping Out The Chicken Digs! They don’t know what to think about Biscuit, my oldest girl, drinking their water! I think the ducks are gonna be like my oldest son, Patrick, was with his brother, Parker. What was Patrick’s was Patrick’s! And what was Parker’s was Patrick’s too! Am I close to being correct?