Odd mix ducks, by accident

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The babies are 2 months old now, I still have 6 strong quacks and one whispery 'chmeep' so 6 hens, one drake. I moved them out with their Dad's flock a couple of days ago and yesterday he was fine with them. This morning he was going after them so I have them alone now. I discovered that they have quite a bit of loft when they flap and can fly over a 3ft. fence easily. Their Mom is a very strong flyer and I thought they might be too which is why I wanted them in back behind the 6ft. fence in the yard that is netted, but them picking on and starting to chase the Calls like Runners would ended that idea. Tonight I clipped flight the feathers on one wing on each of them, I don't want to have to chase them all over the neighborhood the rats.
 
Boo on the personalities! :/ They are beautiful! We have two Rouen/Runner crosses, and I am hoping they get good temperments because I never thought I would have runners...I'm ok with them not being super lovey (although that would be nice if they were calm and liked to be pet) but if they don't try to come after me when I give them food and water, and are just fun to watch, I'm ok with that. They seem to already be warming up to me...they were really skittish the first few hours of the first day, and they cry if seperated (I was putting on in the bathtub and hadn't grabbed the other yet...and no, it wasn't filled, I just needed a place to put them while I cleaned their temporary home out.) The seem to calm down when I talk to them now, and it is kinda like having a baby to me...lol...they peep when they want water, or attention, and otherwise they seem content, and they aren't bothered at all by my great dane checking them out, or my kids, so I am hoping thta's a good sign...they have really cute markings right now, so I'm really curious to see what they look like when they mature!
 
Since you are the one raising them they'll bond to you and probably follow you around. That's what happened with the 2 Runners and a goose that I raised together. It was too cold for them to be outside in a pen with a house with a chicken light when I got them so I kept them in my bathroom for 3 weeks and gave them daily swims in the bathtub. Then we would take a walk around upstairs (I don't have carpeting). They stayed close to me until they joined the rest of the birds, then they became part of the flock, though the 2 ducks do listen to me closely and often they follow what I ask them to do.

The Call/Runner babies are fine with the larger ducks and they want to hang out with them, I think they were fussing at and picking on the Calls because they could. I have a Runner hen who lost her 2 ducklings in the first couple of days and she has never "un-broodied" so I out her in with them this morning. They want a Mom to follow and she wants babies so I'll see how it goes. Hopefully they will give each other some peace and happiness. They are very nervous and I'm wondering if they'll settle down as they mature or if they'll stay nervous like little Runners. Their size is halfway between a Runner and a Call and they walk around in a tight group all quacking the same way, it's so cute, they're like a little duck marching band. lol
 
Sasa said:
Since you are the one raising them they'll bond to you and probably follow you around. That's what happened with the 2 Runners and a goose that I raised together. It was too cold for them to be outside in a pen with a house with a chicken light when I got them so I kept them in my bathroom for 3 weeks and gave them daily swims in the bathtub. Then we would take a walk around upstairs (I don't have carpeting). They stayed close to me until they joined the rest of the birds, then they became part of the flock, though the 2 ducks do listen to me closely and often they follow what I ask them to do.

The Call/Runner babies are fine with the larger ducks and they want to hang out with them, I think they were fussing at and picking on the Calls because they could. I have a Runner hen who lost her 2 ducklings in the first couple of days and she has never "un-broodied" so I out her in with them this morning. They want a Mom to follow and she wants babies so I'll see how it goes. Hopefully they will give each other some peace and happiness. They are very nervous and I'm wondering if they'll settle down as they mature or if they'll stay nervous like little Runners. Their size is halfway between a Runner and a Call and they walk around in a tight group all quacking the same way, it's so cute, they're like a little duck marching band. lol
Click to expand...

I would love to see that! Too funny! They seem a little skittish around me at first when I go to get water or get them in the tub, but after I talk to them and watch them for a few they seem ok...we are in a rental house and have a large dog, so I can't let them walk around in here...we are going away in a week, and I am so nervous to let anyone care for them! We will only be gone 3 days, but then I will be gone an additional 3 with hubby taking care of him, which he will be oh so excited for...so I am really nervous. I really hope they continue to warm up to us though...mine right now seem to have a stance more like a Rouen, and a little of their beefier body shape, but then they stand up in little runner stances and it is so cute! lol!
 
If the pet sitter is up on what to do to care for the babies they'll be okay. Isn't it funny how that Runner side shows up? Mine walk like Calls do but when they're surprised they stand up like Runners. They're so cute. I am introducing them to the other ducks bit by bit, except for their Dad, I am trying to re-home him, and a couple of his hens for company. Right now I put all the hens in with the babies and the 3 drakes are together, if I can't find a good home for this drake then all of the ducks will have to be one flock. This Lavender drake is so strange, he absolutely will not join any flock and he keeps himself and his hens separate from the rest of the ducks. The other drakes try to 'claim' his hens as they would if they were all becoming one flock but this drake goes to war over it, he's incredibly stubborn (Taurus maybe?). It has been duck wars all season. My other 2 Runner drakes are very nice, they even accepted the babies right away while the Lavender boy attacked them. He needs another home because I don't want to have to keep separating ducks for the next 15 years.
 

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