Sharing a duck story

[inquisitivebird]

Hi Everyone,
just wanted to share a story about my ducklings that happened yesterday. I usually put them in our water trough which has a rock sticking out of the water that they can climb out onto. But they are 4 weeks old now and have just started being able to jump out of the trough. So yesterday they were finished swimming and jumped out like usual and started foraging which I've seen them do a few times but each time I have to search farther and longer to find them again. They can cover some ground. So I saw them waddling around our property exploring and I thought, 'I'll let them have some fun and then collect them in a bit and put them back in their enclosure. Well, I got a little distracted and when I went looking for them I couldn't find them anywhere... I searched our whole two acre property and called for them but they didn't call out back to me like the usually do... I was so distraught..

I thought I'd lost them forever, and hoped I had taught them enough to live on their own... I carried on with what I was doing outside and tried to forget about it... and low and behold at sunset here they came waddling back over to the water trough.... I was so overjoyed...!!! They came home and boy were they tired... and they were happy to be picked up again and happy for a snuggle.

For those that have ducks... in 4 weeks I'm going on a 6 week holiday and I'm curious if you think they will stay and keep coming home each day or if they will wander off to find another home? When I get back I have low hopes of them still being around but I really want them to. They are mallards and we raised the eggs from a wild nest we found. I have 3 ducklings and hope they will want to stay for good. We are in New Zealand so it will be summer and I don't think they really migrate here.

Also, what are some cute duck stories that you have to share?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi Everyone,
just wanted to share a story about my ducklings that happened yesterday. I usually put them in our water trough which has a rock sticking out of the water that they can climb out onto. But they are 4 weeks old now and have just started being able to jump out of the trough. So yesterday they were finished swimming and jumped out like usual and started foraging which I've seen them do a few times but each time I have to search farther and longer to find them again. They can cover some ground. So I saw them waddling around our property exploring and I thought, 'I'll let them have some fun and then collect them in a bit and put them back in their enclosure. Well, I got a little distracted and when I went looking for them I couldn't find them anywhere... I searched our whole two acre property and called for them but they didn't call out back to me like the usually do... I was so distraught..

I thought I'd lost them forever, and hoped I had taught them enough to live on their own... I carried on with what I was doing outside and tried to forget about it... and low and behold at sunset here they came waddling back over to the water trough.... I was so overjoyed...!!! They came home and boy were they tired... and they were happy to be picked up again and happy for a snuggle.

For those that have ducks... in 4 weeks I'm going on a 6 week holiday and I'm curious if you think they will stay and keep coming home each day or if they will wander off to find another home? When I get back I have low hopes of them still being around but I really want them to. They are mallards and we raised the eggs from a wild nest we found. I have 3 ducklings and hope they will want to stay for good. We are in New Zealand so it will be summer and I don't think they really migrate here.

Also, what are some cute duck stories that you have to share?

I'm glad they found their way home, so many predators that love to eat ducks. are they flying yet? that would be a plus.

If you go on holiday will anyone be there to feed them and put them up at night to protect them, if not they may leave to look for food if they can fly or something may eat them.

 

[buff goose guy]

Hi lovely story, if you have somebody to take are of them while your gone you can take them to a vet for them to be pinioned. And also , ducks are good foragers but being raised means that they relie on you for their food source. I would have considered traveling as a factor before you sartre raising ducks. They are very time consuming. Also without being raised wildly they are more vulnerable to predators if they do not go up at night. You did a good job saving that nest, but now they still might not survive.

 

[inquisitivebird]

I should probably note that New Zealand has very few predators. The only things I can think of are one species of hawk which wouldn't be big enough to eat a duck and the same for one owl species. There are dogs and cats I suppose, but I think they would have a good chance considering the mild climate. They know how to find food in the grass and dirt as they love to forage in the garden when I'm working outside. They love snails and slugs and slaters. We also have a river right next to our land. I would think it quite likely that they could survive outside at 2 months old when we leave, they know how to find food. We will have people coming by to check our property and to refill our chicken's food and water a few times a week and who will stay the night there as well. They will be putting food out for the ducks so I don't think that would be a problem if they wanted it, and I could clip their wings but I don't want to keep them in with the chickens. I think they might not get along. That's the only way I could keep them enclosed at the moment. I guess I'll find out. My main concern is that they would think I abandoned them and that they would leave because I wasn't there anymore as they have imprinted on me.

 

[Amiga]

That is very much a possibility, inquisitivebird, I do feel that they are quite vulnerable and if someone is not there to check on them their risk increases all the more.