Neighbor said she wants to take Daisy :/

[desertdarlene]

If the "rightful owners" have not claimed the duck, then it is yours. I don't know why that neighbor is being such a busy body about it. Is Daisy noisy or something? I agree, keep her in your yard, at least, that way no one could take her or claim that she's roaming around the neighborhood.

 

[Happyflower]

I can't believe the original owner would leave a duck like that without knowing for sure how well she will be cared for.

At least the other neighbor means well, thinking he is helping the duck, it is what I would have done before I knew better.

 

[Country Parson]

I'll take an opposing point of view. One duck is not worth a bad neighbor relationship. I would not go to the neighbor and state the duck is yours and I would certainly not threaten them with trespassing if they take the duck.

A better approach is to tell them that the duck was abandoned for the last few weeks, and you have been caring for it. I would also tell them that you have already built a shelter/pen for it and would like to keep her. Most likely they don't want her anyway. Don't go to war over this, especially when a little diplomacy will get you where you want to be. Worse case scenario, you lose a duck but gain a peaceful relationship with a neighbor. Most likely scenario, you gain a duck and a peaceful relationship.

 

[artsyrobin]

i'd be tempted to bring her in the house until you have an enclosure for her that will make it very clear she is in your family- just my 2 cents

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I'm sure the duck folks will correct me if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that the duck would be great in your garden keeping the bugs out. They don't scratch around digging up your garden like the chickens will. As for feed, check out Purina Flock Raiser, I feed it too all my feathered friends.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
x2.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Quote:
X2



Or just walk outside and tell them that she is yours. Tell them by law after ___ days of adoption she is legally yours, AND it's illegal (and deadly to the duck) to be dumped off at the lake.

End of story.

 

[sandcat]

your duck now, tell them to go jump in a pond!!!!!(not yours though....)

 

[wonderpup]

Quote:
no not really. She quacks occasionally but I guess that's something all ducks do. The people down the street have surely noticed that there is no duck in their pond by now and still haven't come looking for her. Actually they have dismantled the entire pump and there is almost no water in the pond now. My husband went over there just before they moved in to check out what kind of filter they had and he noticed it was badly clogged. So he took it apart, cleaned it and it was so powerful you could hear the waterfall from the street. Impressive. It's off now though, like I said, you can see it isn't running. Now If THEY want to come and get Daisy in the next week or two well there isn't a whole lot I can do about that except maybe ask them to purchase the food I bought her since I don't really need it yet, my chickens are still on starter feed. If they won't well they won't and I'm sure it won't go bad before the chicks are old enough to eat it. Methinks they'll just tell the old owners that the duck is gone and they don't know where it is. They didn't move in until a little over two weeks after the old family moved out after all, all sorts of things could have happened to her in that time.

I'm going to have a hard time not being annoyed if lady nextdoor to me tries to take her though. Especially if she's only going to dump her at the park on the other side of town. It would be different if she wanted to keep her as a pet, hey I'd be OK with that. I told her this afternoon if Daisy is bothering her we will take care of that and the same with the chickens. I already promised not to keep a rooster who was going to be crowing, though I could I think, I just don't want to bother anyone.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

YOU need to not be so passive and just tell them she is yours and they can't take her. It sounds like you wouldn't even say anything if they came to get her and that gives me the impression that you don't really want her. JUST TELL THEM.