Our New Boy is Home - Silver Appleyard Drake

[3bird]

Today is the day!!!! Sir William headed out on this sunny, 45F day (with winds gusting to 40mph...oh well) to meet his ladies.

This is a see-but-don't-touch-visit. He will come in tonight and go back out again tomorrow. We're supposed to get a few inches of snow tomorrow night, but if it's not too bad, we'll turn them out together in one of our fenced fields on Thursday and see how that goes.

 

[3bird]

Yesterday, after a few days of see-don't-touch, we introduced Sir William to the flock without any barrier between them. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself at first, but he (and the girls) all did a great job!

After a little while, he decided that the girls were not paying enough attention to him!

Soon they all settled down into foraging together.

It didn't take him long to figure out Soup for Ducks

We brought him in last night, but he came out with us early to feed this morning, and he spent a full hour free-ranging with the girls without incident. So, we decided he should get a chance to be in the run with the girls today, and he's doing great! Phew!

 

[3bird]

Quick Update: Sir William is doing great--an model drake. They eat and then he eats. Always looking out for everyone!

 

[3bird]

Here's a little update on Sir William after his first summer at Three Bird Farm. He has truly grown into a model drake, and we feel so lucky! For those of you who don't know, we had a devestating mink attack toward the end of July, and while drake was one of only two ducks uninjured, he had blood on him and was defending his girls with every ounce of his strength. Throughout the lengthy indoor recovery period, he stayed with the flock and was so even-tempered, even allowing the daily carries at first to the bathtub and then to the lawn as everyone recovered. There is no doubt that the injured ducks recovery was buoyed by Bill's presence. When he would preen, they would try to preen. When he would eat, they would try to eat. When he flapped his wings, they would try to flap their wings. Once we started doing little forays back onto the lawn, Sir William was so attentive of his surroundings and protective of his girls. It was incredible to see. Now everyone (except Sweet Eloise, who we lost) is back outside, and Bill has gone through his molt and is looking fine! He's put on muscle over the summer and is a good lookig Silver Appleyard drake if we do say so ourselves!