My Love Affair With Ducks...

[Mimi13]

Why on earth did you drench it in Hibiclens?! - That stuff is way too strong, you should have rubbed it with rock-salt! - Kidding of course!
Just use soap - i mean soap, like in a soap-bar, not that liquid "soap" where the manufaketurer is more interested in the nice smell and the profit than in the cleaning and disinfecting capabilities. Good ol' soap is really good in removing germs and is not too harsh on your skin.
And then to make sure that no germs will do harm, use an OTC antibiotic ointment…
Works all the time with me! And trust me: With my pair of clumsy left hands i get bruises, scratches and cuts daily… Let alone my latest attempt to kill myself No good deed ever goes unpunished!!! - Part III

Well I’m a dumb butt! I had no idea it would be bad to use that to clean my finger. I know now, though! My poor old finger will heal, but it’s gonna have some more scar. I generally have 3-4 cuts/scratches trying to heal at any one time — thanks to my chickens. My hands and forearms are pretty disgusting most of the time. And heaven help me if I’m building something that requires hardware cloth. I invariably receive pretty good cuts from that stuff!

Now what I haven’t done is try to electrocute myself!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I hope this video brings a smile to each of y’all like it does me!

Something so simple as a mud hole can make a duckie smile......

Oh No!
You need to act fast and stop them from digging in that hole! If you don't act now, the result will be catastrophic:

 

[Mimi13]

I told you! Not you will make the decision whether there will be new ducklings, not you!

They definitely are secretive boogers. Hiding their eggs? Who does that?!?

 

[Mimi13]

Oh No!
You need to act fast and stop them from digging in that hole! If you don't act now, the result will be catastrophic:
View attachment 2294714

That is hilarious!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Well I’m a dumb butt! I had no idea it would be bad to use that to clean my finger. I know now, though! My poor old finger will heal, but it’s gonna have some more scar. I generally have 3-4 cuts/scratches trying to heal at any one time — thanks to my chickens. My hands and forearms are pretty disgusting most of the time. And heaven help me if I’m building something that requires hardware cloth. I invariably receive pretty good cuts from that stuff!

Now what I haven’t done is try to electrocute myself!

Hardware cloth? - The stuff of my nightmares!
I manage to poke my i belly with the chicken wire…
And for the duck-run i must work with wire-mesh!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

They definitely are secretive boogers. Hiding their eggs? Who does that?!?

My ducks do that all the time! - Some days there's just ten eggs and then the next day i find fourteen. Very suspicious…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That is hilarious!

I know! - But better loosing a good friend than skipping a hilarious joke...

 

[jaykayhuff]

So in the past few days I’ve noticed the girls doing a new quack. Anytime I look in the dog houses with straw or go into the coop (looking for eggs that aren’t there) they all start up with this weird short quack. Makes me think of the kiddie carnival spaceship rides but they seem all fussy at me then I walk away and they stop... @Mimi13 or @WannaBeHillBilly do yours do this? Also, if they aren’t even touching the oyster shell is there a chance they may just not like it and I need to try a different brand?

 

[Mimi13]

So in the past few days I’ve noticed the girls doing a new quack. Anytime I look in the dog houses with straw or go into the coop (looking for eggs that aren’t there) they all start up with this weird short quack. Makes me think of the kiddie carnival spaceship rides but they seem all fussy at me then I walk away and they stop... @Mimi13 or @WannaBeHillBilly do yours do this? Also, if they aren’t even touching the oyster shell is there a chance they may just not like it and I need to try a different brand?

Can you classify this new quack as a “chatter?” The sound I’m talking about seems to only happen when two or more get “in the mood!” As a matter of fact, it was quite annoying in the beginning. That’s when I was really upset that Latte was a Ralphie and it seemed that was ALL the ducks wanted to do. It is most noticeable when they get in water, especially clean water. I need to see if I can get a video of them “chattering.” It is a quack, but a really fast quack. And when one starts, they all chime in.

As far as them seeming fussy because you’re around, they probably are. I think they’re in the teenage stage and get ticked when you walk up on them (in their little space). It’s like mom walking up on them doing “new things.” They kind of get out of that stage though. But they do seem much more secretive, than chickens anyway. My ducks do like scoping out our dog houses too.

And as far as the oyster shell goes, they should begin eating it (when they need it.) To begin with I don’t think they need it, but as time goes on they will. And something I have found out is not only is their shells hard as a rock, the membrane is as tough as nails too. It’s really difficult to break into the things. I feel sorry for those little ducklings trying to free themselves during a hatch.

 

[Mimi13]

This morning I found a WHOPPER in the so-called “nest!” Literally!

It is kind of hard to see, but today Petey’s egg weighed 3.77 oz. One ounce is a huge difference in weight from one day to the next, I think!

This picture is of Petey’s last four day’s worth of eggs...and Hershey’s little blue/green egg is over 2 oz less. (Her egg looks green in the picture, but blue in person.) But goodness gracious, the difference in Petey’s and Hershey’s size is huge. I need to weigh both of them.

Anyway, this was such a big shock to me so I had to share.