New to Ducking

[lovelyduckling]

You should defelently try to grab him before he does! Good luck!

 

[cowetatina]

I want babies for sure! Should I leave all of the eggs since I don't know when they were all laid. She laid then on the ground in her house and piles hay all around them. I will move the nest and all of the eggs as well as her shelter and see what happens. How long should I wait? Will the eggs spoil or rot since I know some are at least 3 weeks old.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If it were my duck I'd remove all the eggs since she isn't sitting on them full time yet and let her start over. She will, then each day when she comes out go in and mark the eggs either with date or just a 1 up that way when she does make up her mind to brood you can take out the oldest dirtiest eggs and leave her with the freshest cleanest. Let her keep 6-8 eggs for her first time then next brood if you want more let her keep more. As for the drake try using a mop handle or broom to keep him at a safe distance from you so you can do your chores. I read one member takes the umbrella with her when she goes out to feed and water her geese and when they come towards her to bite etc she just opens the umbrella and they run for the hills. [Not literally but you get the picture]

 

[lovelyduckling]

I agree with Miss Lydia! That is what I do with mine! Of course I have chickens though! Lol!

 

[cowetatina]

What could this be?

 

[Miss Lydia]

What could this be?

@cowetatina is it a film or bubbles from here it looks like a film. How long has this been going on and could it be from an injury?

 

[cowetatina]

It looks like a film. Yesterday when we went to feed and put in their pen for the night they would not come home! They were in the pond next door. We both have smal ponds and they go back and forth during the day quacking and foraging.
So when they did not come we walked over and she looked like this. She was walking fine but when she swims she was leaning toward her right. He is being really assertive toward her and to us. I have piped is butt a few times and grabbed him as you said. He did not used to mean like this. Now since she is in the picture he is. Neither will let us pick them up or get real close. I see no other marks on her. He is standing guard over her but seems to try and heard her where he wants to go. We finally got them in the pen this afternoon and gave them 2 fresh mini pools and food. She is eating and drinking but being quiet. He is quacking as normal

 

[Miss Lydia]

It looks like a film. Yesterday when we went to feed and put in their pen for the night they would not come home! They were in the pond next door. We both have smal ponds and they go back and forth during the day quacking and foraging.
So when they did not come we walked over and she looked like this. She was walking fine but when she swims she was leaning toward her right. He is being really assertive toward her and to us. I have piped is butt a few times and grabbed him as you said. He did not used to mean like this. Now since she is in the picture he is. Neither will let us pick them up or get real close. I see no other marks on her. He is standing guard over her but seems to try and heard her where he wants to go. We finally got them in the pen this afternoon and gave them 2 fresh mini pools and food. She is eating and drinking but being quiet. He is quacking as normal

The drake may have poked her in the eye when mating, it happens. Now that you have them contained make of a solutions of warm salty water and just rinse the eye with it. see how it looks tomorrow, you may want to pick up some Terrimycin eye salve at the feed store if it doesn't improve in a couple days. Rinse the eye at least 2x a day. Your just going to have to catch her and take someone with you to keep the drake away. You don't want this to be come an infection. Take the broom along and let who ever helps keep the drake at bay with the broom. Or put his butt out of the pen while you take care of her.He won't leave her for long. The solution is 1/8 tea of salt mixed well into 1 cup of warm water. Just let it run over the eye. This will also let you get a good look at the eye. Use a large toel to restrain her if needed. Good luck.

 

[cowetatina]

Should I also have more than one female? He wants to mate a lot ! And he is rough with her.

 

[cowetatina]

I put him out of the pen! He was sticking his head through the chain link trying to bite me! He has turn so mean and I don't know why. He was sweet before. And the female I had before was pretty friendly too. I never picked them up but they would peck out of your hand and sit next to you in the sun and relax. Then she was killed by something that totally removed her head and left her body. He was then alone for about a month and continued to follow us around and eat from my hand . Then I was able to get this female from a friend of a friend that raises dicks. She is almost 3. He is almost a year old. They seemed to like each other and with your advice I was able to get them into the pen each night. Then he became aggressive and try's to bite all the time and puts his head down to ram you as you walk away. I have flat hand spanked his butt and grabbed him as you said and held him. He pecked the heck out of my shins and arms but I held him. So far he still doesn't know I'm boss. He wants to mate all the time and she lets him, but with the previous duck she didn't seem to "like it". Now with this eye injury I am so worried. Thank you for advising me.