Show off your house ducks!

[Kaessa]

SO CUTE

 

[AmandaVirus]

I thought I would share some photos of our most recent adventure with Misty.

At the beach on the edge of a cliff, don't worry I only let go of her for the pic!


On a walk at the same beach


And up on a fence getting a good view.

 

[Amykins]

"I am Misty, purveyor of all I see!"

 

[Julie Birb]

I thought I would share some photos of our most recent adventure with Misty.

At the beach on the edge of a cliff, don't worry I only let go of her for the pic!


On a walk at the same beach


And up on a fence getting a good view.

Awesome pictures with Misty and the background settings. She is so cute sitting on your leg.

 

[Julie Birb]

I was in the process of deciding which of my six saxonies would be a permanent house duck. They were too big to keep cooped up in the growout pen, and it was time to give the space to the chicks, so I put them outside. Narcissus the goose lays down ground rules for any new bird that enters the yard. He gives a single reminder that he is dominant, then ignores all new comers unless they fail to follow his rules. He likes the flock inside the confines of the perimeter fence. Their area is over an acre of woods and field, but he seems to like to know that everyone is safe inside. Missy and one of her sisters kept challenging the fence. Narcissus would pick them up off of the fence and carry them a little bit off and let them go. They kept going back. Eventually he lost his temper. He got a hold of Missy, pinned her down and tore all the feathers off of her back. (Hence the name MissBehavin - she doesn't like to follow the rules). I brought her inside, and decided she would be my house duck. She will not go outside unless you carry her out (then she is happy to take rides in the car), and will not go anywhere near the back door. She likes to be with me when I am home, so when I go out back it upsets her - she remembers the trauma of being out there, but also wants to follow.

Pale girl is getting a little more mobile every day. She is spending more time traveling with the flock, and Narcissus leaves her from time to time to patrol. She is still limping heavily, but folds her leg normally under her now, and stands with equal weight on both legs on occasion. She doesn't walk as much as everyone else, and will still spend some time resting while everyone else forages, but she is starting to act like s duck again. Either Narcissus, Ducky, or Big Boy checks on her regularly if she is not roaming with the group. I'm still surprised how fast she went from little limp to completely lame with this. My big hatchery pekins have a tendency to strain their joints (those huge bodies on tiny legs) but usually rest for a few days and are good as new. My breeder egg pekins don't have the leg problems, and have much lighter bodies. Right now she is asleep in the chive patch, surrounded by her friends and the geese. I think her being with her flock is just as therapeutic as the antibiotic I filled her joint space with....

Missy is still snubbing her duck feed. I'm trying to get her to eat at least a little of it each day. She has been holding out, waiting for me to break down and put a tray of food out for her. Now she is just sitting and staring at me.. Waiting for me to give in....

How does Narcissus know when and how to lay down the law with the various ducks? He is brilliant. Seriously. I mean that. I have no experience with flocks of birds so am only wondering. It is fascinating. I am glad Pale Girl is getting out with the flock and that the other birds check on her. What a bunch of sweet, caring souls they are.

Another thing I didn't know was the size of a pekin's body and its effect on their legs. Poor things. I am glad you are the one that has the ones you do and that you know how to administer to then.

Missy is funny. Is her behavior a control thing? Is it her way of trying to manipulate you? I love it.

 

[Julie Birb]

It's a common problem, I see it all the time with owner-relinquished cats and dogs. They get so spoiled that they will outright refuse their proper food, and it can be a huge problem. Weight gain, malnutrition, liver disease, it's awful. Not saying Missy's in any danger, obviously she's in great hands, I just get so sad sometimes seeing how some owners are literally killing their pets with kindness. :/ You just gotta be more stubborn than Missy, give her only duck food and nothing else, and don't give in until she starts eating properly again! Easier said than done, I know...

See, with Wobbles, I know he's a headstrong little poophead so I try to ensure he never gets anything more than the occasional scrap he manages to steal offa my plate. Sneaky bird. Grumble grumble. And NOW I got a sneaky Bean! Last night she snatched the lettuce right outta my sandwich and ran off with it flapping behind her like a superhero cape!

That is awesome. Silly little Bean.

 

[Julie Birb]

lol! She just got a little seaweed today, a bite of a burger, and all the cat food she could steal. Her bowl is still sitting there full of food. Many, many, many, many, many (oh you guys get the point) years ago I volunteered at my local vet's office. One of the things that stuck with me is the vets telling owners of finicky eaters "no animal will starve itself".. Unfortunately, Missy is very good at getting her way. She bullies the cats, and takes advantage of any unsuspecting person with food. It's tough when you are the only person putting their foot down... She is next to me making the "I want food" noise.... I'd give her a few days before she realizes that I'm the one with the boring stuff, and that everyone else in the house is easier to con... She will stop giving me the sad eyes and the food noise and move onto people she knows are suckers...

Missy, you little manipulator of the bill and webbed feets. You sweet thing, you!!

 

[Amykins]

How does Narcissus know when and how to lay down the law with the various ducks? He is brilliant. Seriously. I mean that. I have no experience with flocks of birds so am only wondering. It is fascinating. I am glad Pale Girl is getting out with the flock and that the other birds check on her. What a bunch of sweet, caring souls they are.

Another thing I didn't know was the size of a pekin's body and its effect on their legs. Poor things. I am glad you are the one that has the ones you do and that you know how to administer to then.

Missy is funny. Is her behavior a control thing? Is it her way of trying to manipulate you? I love it.

Geese are super smart, way more than anyone gives them credit for. They've shown to have long-term memory and have problem solving skills, and I suspect that's the reason why geese, even wild geese, will raise goslings that aren't their own no matter how old they are. I think deep down they recognize "hey, this little tyke needs a mama!" or something. It's really sweet. That's how we released Chub-Chub before, we found some fellow Canada geese that had babies and they took him right in <3

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
How does Narcissus know when and how to lay down the law with the various ducks?  He is brilliant.  Seriously.  I mean that.  I have no experience with flocks of birds so am only wondering.  It is fascinating.  I am glad Pale Girl is getting out with the flock and that the other birds check on her.  What a bunch of sweet, caring souls they are.  

Another thing I didn't know was the size of a pekin's body and its effect on their legs.  Poor things.  I am glad you are the one that has the ones you do and that you know how to administer to then.

Missy is funny.  Is her behavior a control thing?  Is it her way of trying to manipulate you?  I love it.

Geese are super smart, way more than anyone gives them credit for. They've shown to have long-term memory and have problem solving skills, and I suspect that's the reason why geese, even wild geese, will raise goslings that aren't their own no matter how old they are. I think deep down they recognize "hey, this little tyke needs a mama!" or something. It's really sweet. That's how we released Chub-Chub before, we found some fellow Canada geese that had babies and they took him right in <3

Actually, the ganders are the ones that usually adopt & tend the babies...so they don't really care who hatched them.

 

[Amykins]

Actually, the ganders are the ones that usually adopt & tend the babies...so they don't really care who hatched them.

Oh. Well, it's still cute. And I like to think it's just 'cuz they're smart and awesome and affectionate and wonderful birds <3