PLEASE help my poor call ducks

[lilchicklets2]

Before I forget..... do call ducks fly? I say no because they were originally bred to be decoys. It would kind of defeat the point of being a decoy if it could fly away.

 

[bibkel]

No clue if they fly! I would assume yes, they are smaller than others...another reason I chose blue swedish, rouen etc.

And, no don't take it personally. My broody girl is screaming at me now everytime I walk out there even as I pour food out. the chickens come running....and the ducks waddle closer but keep a distance until food is in the trough.

My daughter is patient enough and her legs can take it....squatting down with food in her hand and waiting. Me? I hurt. LOL

I will post some pics tonight of my babies

 

[Duckville denizen]

I think your ducks will be fine. We had one little hen that was seriously wounded by some animal and wound up losing half her upper beak. We didn't think she would make it, but she did and has developed a most ingeneous way of scooping up food with her lower beak. True, she's no beauty, but we think it's ironic that the youngest and most virile Pekin drake on the creek has decided she's his queen and protects her fiercely! She also lost all her feathers on her rear end (our little neighbor girl said Plume's heinie was bare) and she has grown all the feathers back.

 

[Duckville denizen]

Call ducks do fly! We have had several, and they will just raise up and take off. One little hen, Maggie, escaped amorous suitors who were unable to fly just by flying away from them, and BOY, do they have a voice!!! No wonder they were decoys.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Call ducks - mine are cute, but not friendly - I also clipped their wings, only one wing, but just to let it be able to free range without waking off on me. So far, so good.

 

[lilchicklets2]

Ok so definitly clipping their wings. They took off again today for a couple hours but came back when it was "worm time" (their favorite snack). So I guess they are just snobs. Lol.

Bibkel: I would love to see pics and I just ordered blue and black swedish eggs. Also a couple welsh.


They are home now so I'll try to take pics of the ducks (Betty and Andre) and post them. If they let me. LOL!!!!

 

[lilchicklets2]

TADA!!!!!!!

I told them to be good cause I needed a picture and she actually stopped yelling at me and they both stood still. Figures

 

[bibkel]

Quote:
PICTURES!!! She actually sounds cute, I like quaky quirks!

@lilchicklets2....I am uploading as we speak...I will find blue swedish and post those. (they didnt have welsh at metzer when I ordered

but I love what I got!)

Oh, and They are darling! Do you know how to clip wings?

 

[lilchicklets2]

Yay!!! PICTURES!!!!

No I am not sure how to clip wings. Ive seen it done on house birds but never on a bird as big as a duck.

 

[Bobberduck]

I would say presence... make sure you talk to them a little morning and evening minimum.

I know Cayugas are a different breed and they are a ton more sociable from the sounds of it, but mine are still a little skittish. I have trained them to 'Sit' once I can catch one and pick them up, but they still scoot pretty good up to that point. Patience and love should do them some good... oh, and dandelions. Our ducks and chickens will riot when we poke dandelion greens through the fence or drop them in the water dish. hunt through your yard and pick a handful of greens, then feed them to the ducklings... Dandelions are the great attractor in our yard.

We use a 3 inch deep 9x13 pan for our dish... only one issue with that so far, and that is the fact that the moment we freshen the water all six of our ducks think it is bath time. if it is big enough for them to get in, but only half full it might be tempting for the to scrabble in and take a wash.