Show off your house ducks!

[AmandaVirginia]

At a little over four months, I'm trying to think of when Bean's gonna lay her first egg. How old were your girls when they began laying? I know it's different for calls but I wanted some perspective on what I should expect when Bean's finally all grown up <3

Winter's momma, Perdy, was 6 months old. She was born on August 9th and laid her very first egg on February 14, Valentine's Day <3

 

[Amykins]

EEE Perdy! <3 I seriously love your birds, Amanda!

We're giving her calcified grit, but she won't eat her layer feed. She's been spoiled by the mazuri maintenance pellets. Grumble.

Seriously though, this morning was so cute. She began tossing her head and calling, running in circles with her head held down, just the gamut of adorable duck behaviors, ha! But a part of me did wonder if she was attempting to make a mating display.

 

[AmandaVirginia]

EEE Perdy! <3 I seriously love your birds, Amanda!

We're giving her calcified grit, but she won't eat her layer feed. She's been spoiled by the mazuri maintenance pellets. Grumble.

Seriously though, this morning was so cute. She began tossing her head and calling, running in circles with her head held down, just the gamut of adorable duck behaviors, ha! But a part of me did wonder if she was attempting to make a mating display. 

It does sound like she was beginning to show off for Wobbles (; She may lay her first egg before 6 months, especially with this warm weather this summer.

I actually rehomed Winter's momma, Perdy and her daddies, Pippa & Winnie. Winnie became pretty aggressive and I was hoping it was just the season but it lasted longer than 6 months and didn't show any signs of letting up, so I decided my dogs, nieces, and nephews were no longer safe around him. And, I didn't want to rehome him without Perdy & Pippa. So, a loving family took all three to live on their small farm

With that being said, I only have my Winter now! I'd love a pair of Grey, Snowy, Butterscotch, or Pastel to hatch and raise though! They will go outside and Winter is forever our house duck (; So, if you or anyone else knows anyone that has Call ducks still laying this season and is willing to sell and ship eggs, please let me know!

 

[Amykins]

Oh no, I had no idea...I'm sorry, hun. :/ I'll miss hearing about Perdy-poo's antics, but at least I can look forward to more stories about Winter!

I don't think the woman I got Bean from has laying ducks anymore, but I can email her and ask. And if Wobbles and Bean DO mate, would you have any interest in those eggs?

 

[AmandaVirginia]

Yes! You'll always hear stories about my little Winter, she is one special duck and we just love her tremendously <3 Maybe so, definitely let me know when that first egg is laid! What an exciting day that'll be for you & Bean!

This is how Winter is sleeping right now! One legged, with her other tucked up in her feathers, like a little flamingo! How does she balance?! She is so perdy! Does anyone else's baby sleep like this or is it just mine?!

 

[Amykins]

EEEEEEE SHE LOOKS LIKE A TURNIP!

Mine don't sleep like that. Heck, Wobbles can't even balance on one leg to do a kickstand stretch, let alone to sleep! Bean's only done the kickstand once or twice. She'll tuck her bill in to sleep (Wobbles just lets his head loll about) and will loaf out on the couch or on the bed with me. <3

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Yes! You'll always hear stories about my little Winter, she is one special duck and we just love her tremendously <3 Maybe so, definitely let me know when that first egg is laid! What an exciting day that'll be for you & Bean!



This is how Winter is sleeping right now! One legged, with her other tucked up in her feathers, like a little flamingo! How does she balance?! She is so perdy! Does anyone else's baby sleep like this or is it just mine?!

The majority of mine sleep that way at least part of the time if they're outside their pens at the time. I never see them do that inside any kind of containment, so maybe it's an instinctive thing so they can hit the ground running if a threat arose? Not sure, but I think I'll look it up to see what opinions are on that. I'd never wondered much about it before now.

 

[AmandaVirginia]

The majority of mine sleep that way at least part of the time if they're outside their pens at the time. I never see them do that inside any kind of containment, so maybe it's an instinctive thing so they can hit the ground running if a threat arose? Not sure, but I think I'll look it up to see what opinions are on that. I'd never wondered much about it before now.

Haha, she has no threat! She's an incredibly friendly, fun loving, very sweet house duck!

 

[Amykins]

Haha, she has no threat! She's an incredibly friendly, fun loving, very sweet house duck!

I think it's just preference, really. Or in Wobbles' case, total cluelessness on how to be a duck.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Haha, she has no threat! She's an incredibly friendly, fun loving, very sweet house duck!

Apologies if that came across in a way I didn't intend. I was really just speculating based on what I've seen in my own ducks. I have no idea what experts say about it but intend to look it up now that you've piqued my interest. I've just never had any of mine sleep that way inside an enclosure, whether it was an indoor or outdoor enclosure. There have also been many times that I had a lot of mine out at once, but only one or two of them did that while the rest were lying down. I don't know if it's that particular duck's preference at the time or if it means the ones that do it are on "guard duty."

One thing I have noticed is that some of mine do it more than others, but it doesn't seem to have any relationship to whether they're ducks or drakes. I have some drakes that guard the flock, meaning they continually scan the ground and the sky while the others forage, but they still lie down for their sleep/rest while a couple of the ducks are sleeping/resting standing on one foot.