My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

Just a quick pic of the waddlers!

I finished their automatic waterer yesterday evening. I’m not certain they like it, but we’ll see. I’ll take some pics of it in a bit.

 

[Mimi13]

Maybe y’all can pick out Latte’s ‘quack’ amongst all the other loud mouths. It is a much softer sound and more of a rasp than a quack, to me anyway. What are y’all’s thoughts on the difference?

 

[Mimi13]

Here is the new auto waterer I made. I purchased the 13 gallon barrel from a man in town for $15 and ordered the float valve from Amazon for $17. I had the pole and scrap wood just laying around.

Here’s a picture of the float inside.

I cut 3 1/4” holes for the ducks to access the water. I hope it’s a big enough hole, it’s the biggest bit I had. Then a 7/8” hole for the float valve assembly and a 1 1/4” hole for the pole. I wanted to be able to move the waterer so I did not concrete the 2x4’s in the ground. I built legs with various holes in each so I would always be able to level it wherever I decided to put it.

Believe it or not I could tell they had been using it this morning. I’m very glad. And I caught a little clip of Quinny using it before she ran off because of the chicken.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Maybe y’all can pick out Latte’s ‘quack’ amongst all the other loud mouths. It is a much softer sound and more of a rasp than a quack, to me anyway. What are y’all’s thoughts on the difference?

Congrats on Ralphie the drake!

 

[Mimi13]

Congrats on Ralphie the drake!

Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?

I am. I definitely hear a drake in there. Can't tell for sure it's the runner but I think so.

 

[Mimi13]

I am. I definitely hear a drake in there. Can't tell for sure it's the runner but I think so.

Oh it’s for sure Latte. That’s the problem I’ve had trying to capture only her, er him! The others are SOOOOO loud. I’m gonna try again to video and get the sound a little better.

So, this means I now have a male duck, a drake, no less. Now I need to begin reading about safeguarding my chicken ladies, don’t I!

How in the world could a “real peewee” be missed during sexing, as opposed to an “imaginary peewee” on a chicken? You win, Ralphie, you win!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

It happens sometimes. I only experienced it with a pair of geese. So even bigger on the peewee front. I would say it's unusual but not rare. The hatchery should probably refund you for Ralphie or send you a girl replacement. If it's worth the effort for you. I gave my extra gander away. As to what to do, just wait and see. Some Drakes can be sweeties, others will rape anything and everything. Humans, wellingtons, chickens, geese. You'll just have to see how he turns out. Just be thinking about how you will handle drake jail if you need it.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Maybe y’all can pick out Latte’s ‘quack’ amongst all the other loud mouths. It is a much softer sound and more of a rasp than a quack, to me anyway. What are y’all’s thoughts on the difference?

Latte is definitely a boy! He is starts to rasp not quack!

Here is the new auto waterer I made. I purchased the 13 gallon barrel from a man in town for $15 and ordered the float valve from Amazon for $17. I had the pole and scrap wood just laying around.
View attachment 2178303

Here’s a picture of the float inside.
View attachment 2178305

I cut 3 1/4” holes for the ducks to access the water. I hope it’s a big enough hole, it’s the biggest bit I had. Then a 7/8” hole for the float valve assembly and a 1 1/4” hole for the pole. I wanted to be able to move the waterer so I did not concrete the 2x4’s in the ground. I built legs with various holes in each so I would always be able to level it wherever I decided to put it.

Believe it or not I could tell they had been using it this morning. I’m very glad. And I caught a little clip of Quinny using it before she ran off because of the chicken.

Drill another ½" hole into the bottom and attach a ½" PVC pipe with a ball valve to it and you have a semi automatic self cleaning duck waterer.
I built something similar out of a 4" PVC pipe: (Almost) Self Cleaning Duck Waterer
But your's is better! No duck can get their dirty feet into it.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Oh it’s for sure Latte. That’s the problem I’ve had trying to capture only her, er him! The others are SOOOOO loud. I’m gonna try again to video and get the sound a little better.

So, this means I now have a male duck, a drake, no less. Now I need to begin reading about safeguarding my chicken ladies, don’t I!

How in the world could a “real peewee” be missed during sexing, as opposed to an “imaginary peewee” on a chicken? You win, Ralphie, you win!

Sexing ducks works safely only in one direction: The identification as a drake is 99.9% confirmed, for the ducks 8-10% of drakes slip through because they can retract their little corkscrew completely and even well trained sexers (yes, they are called that!) will miss it.