My Love Affair With Ducks...

[LaFemmeKatia]

...and Their Love Affair With Water!

This is my second day owning ducks and I have fallen head over heels in love with them!

Those precious little peeps, the interesting looking bills, the ever so delicate looking webbed feet, and those expressive eyes with their heads cocked sideways peering up at me. Oh, and did I mention their little love ‘bites’ on my neck and lips (OUCH!) That I must not let continue so I suppose I have to stop kissing them. I know, I know, I’m not supposed to kiss them, but the way I look at it my chances are better catching Covid 19 from a stranger than catching salmonella from my baby ducklings.

My little Saxony duckling, Twinkle, is seeing the world straight today for the very first time. Since arriving home a little over 24 hours ago, she has been in a sort of vertigo state, staggering, stumbling, turning in circles, and not being able to hold her head straight.

With the help of several BYC members giving me suggestions and instructions to help her mend, she appears to be on the road to recovery...the road to being a normal, healthy, funny little duck.

I will continue my journey of being a First Time Duck Owner/Spring 2020 duck thread here. My initial thread can be found here for all the background story of My Love Affair With Ducks!

Love at first sight! View attachment 2072190

Enjoy these cute little fluff balls. In a few short weeks they will be Bigger, rowdy and messy! I, too, am raising ducklings, and they keep me busy cleaning up after them. They also keep me entertained for hours. They really are adorable.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Oh, and another thing I noticed yesterday, Ralphie has sweet eyes now for Petey too. But what was interesting to me is that Petey appeared to quack differently and ‘flatten’ herself out in the water. Her back was broader, legs slightly stretched out to the side and her neck stretched out forward. Was that her way of “asking for it?”

And, I got my water bill today. First time since I’ve had the ducks and their pools. It was triple! I’m gonna have to ask my son to put the coops and barn back on our well water.

I wish i could find the head of the water well here on the property!!! - It must be somewhere up the hill, but the pre-pre-pre…previous owner connected the house to city water, no, shitty water! Houston had bad water, especially after hefty rains, but that was liquid gold compared to what we get here from the city; the water smells like a over-chlorinated swimming pool!

And yes, the duck girls have fun too, that's why they flatten out and invite the drakes to use them - as pool floats, of course! What were you thinking?
And White Layers are irresistible for an Indian Runner Drake, all those smooth round forms, those thick white feathers and the deep voice…

 

[Texag87]

Aren't copperheads poisonous?

Yes.

 

[Mimi13]

I wish i could find the head of the water well here on the property!!! - It must be somewhere up the hill, but the pre-pre-pre…previous owner connected the house to city water, no, shitty water! Houston had bad water, especially after hefty rains, but that was liquid gold compared to what we get here from the city; the water smells like a over-chlorinated swimming pool!

And yes, the duck girls have fun too, that's why they flatten out and invite the drakes to use them - as pool floats, of course! What were you thinking?
And White Layers are irresistible for an Indian Runner Drake, all those smooth round forms, those thick white feathers and the deep voice…

You are soooo funny! But I guess Petey is a perfect example of “big girls can have fun too!” She makes no bones about what she wants. It’s quite comical!

 

[jaykayhuff]

I have tried everything. Pinning him, holding his bill, picking him up. Broom, snow shovel of death. Janitors broom. I am the person that takes his eggs and he mean only to me. Unless I have peas.

Have you tried forcing him to cuddle? Beginning of mating season, my sweet little Petrie went from wanting to lay on me and have his head tickled to ripping my toes and fingers off. I could hardly walk without him latching on to my shoe or pant leg and making me drag him around the yard while I do morning chores. I tried the whole dominating thing, carrying a scary object, and any other suggestions I came across. I finally realized that if I forced him into my lap and just held him for a few minutes he would be so much calmer. But then it always reset the next day

 

[duluthralphie]

Have you tried forcing him to cuddle? Beginning of mating season, my sweet little Petrie went from wanting to lay on me and have his head tickled to ripping my toes and fingers off. I could hardly walk without him latching on to my shoe or pant leg and making me drag him around the yard while I do morning chores. I tried the whole dominating thing, carrying a scary object, and any other suggestions I came across. I finally realized that if I forced him into my lap and just held him for a few minutes he would be so much calmer. But then it always reset the next day

Never ever force a Ralphie to cuddle.

Speaking on behalf of all the Ralphies of the world, “we hate cuddling”. It makes us feel trapped and want to wretch.

Ralphie cuddling must be earned and not forced. You will lose a Ralfie forever if you force cuddle him.

 

[Mimi13]

Never ever force a Ralphie to cuddle.

Speaking on behalf of all the Ralphies of the world, “we hate cuddling”. It makes us feel trapped and want to wretch.

Ralphie cuddling must be earned and not forced. You will lose a Ralfie forever if you force cuddle him.

Ha! MY Ralphie dux and I will have to come to some sort of agreement then! Maybe something like I’ll leave him be when he’s eyeballing the girls, but he must let me love on him at other times. Basically, in duck terms, he’s gonna have to make time for me!

ETA: Corrected a typo. I want to LOVE on him, not LIVE on him. I’ll blame it on the smart phone!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Yes.

Spoke with Blanca Duck about it, she said: »There is no such thing as a snake! And worms are yummy, not poisoneus! Give it to me, now i'm hungry!« - And she started to chew on my fingers…

 

[Texag87]

Somebody needs to update this thread

This is Henry. He helps me by blocking the old ducks from going in circles around the coop. They are terrified of Henry.

 

[duluthralphie]

This is the late Hebert he scares dux even more..