Show off your house ducks!

[Julie Birb]

I agree, Dan's one of the best breeders around and he and I would e-mail back and forth regularly until I gave that other duckling back. I have some theories, but none of them are very happy ones. Those are: 1. The duckling died and/or somehow gave an infection to his flock (he did mention that the duckling did have some mild conjunctivitis in his final email to me one week after the exchange, although I don't know how that could be my fault as it never left the bator until it was in his hands); 2. His wife, who was with him when we made the exchange, decided he didn't want her hubby talking to a ....erm, "endowed" younger woman, or 3. My best friend, who is MtF trans, had driven me to the rendezvous and that weirded him out enough to not want to talk to me anymore.

I know those all sound rather unpleasant, even morbid. That's why I wish I knew the true reason why I've been given the cold shoulder! At least then I'd have closure, you know? He never once seemed upset or angry with me when we met up for the first (and last) time!

Any of those scenarios could be plausible because you never know about people. And any lack of communication is gonna leave you wondering. Closure would be nice and if he didn't want to be face to face or via phone then at least an email. He has to know you'd want to add a companion in for Wobbles. Is he on Facebook or twitter where you could see his activities regarding ducks?

 

[kukupecpec]

Holy cow Amykins! Sounds like youo've got a real handful over there. It sounds like you are looking for a good quality bird, but have you tried Craigslist? Once in a while I find calls around here on CLand that's really saying something because any kind of special duck can be quite difficult to find in Arizona - apparenlty the desert is not a popular place for ducks.

 

[kukupecpec]

Like I said we've tried decoys, even high-quality ones (one heck of a lucky thrift store find!), but nothing works. He wants to shtupp people, not ducks. ...Makes me worry that even if we DO get a female, if she's not in season he'll just view her as another threat. He'll attack anything if it's in my hands; lotion bottles, drink cups, my music equipment, you name it. 

I was reading back trying to get caught up on the conversation and saw this post!
Wobs didn't grow up around other ducks correct? Has he ever BEEN around other ducks? ChaCha is kind of a freak, she definitely does not know that she is a duck, and she hates all other animals because she's always been attacked by other animals including ducks). She's a female, but she definitely is only interested in mating with ME. Thankfully she's a female, lol, so she just squats for me rather than biting and mounting, but when I tried to introduce her to my outdoor ducks for mating she attacked them! My husband tried taking her while I stayed inside where she couldn't see me and she would ignore them unless they came towards her so we think she was trying to protect me from the other ducks. She does this with everything - the dog, the bunnies, sometimes a stuffed animal that she thinks may be getting a little close to me. I would definitely suggest a backup plan for any hen you do get him just in case he decides he's not interested in her.
I've met other ducks that were raised as an only duck and they never pick duck mates either, they just want to love their human.

 

[Amykins]

That's not good. What else can I do? If I can't find a job that allows me to have him with me I'm in a lot of trouble. :/ He's been around other ducks and seems curious, so there's some spark or inkling that he understands what he is. But he's imprinted on people, so...I just don't know. Since this other duckling is also going to be raised indoors I don't know how I'd go about re-homing her if push comes to shove.

 

[18angovem]

That's not good. What else can I do? If I can't find a job that allows me to have him with me I'm in a lot of trouble. :/ He's been around other ducks and seems curious, so there's some spark or inkling that he understands what he is. But he's imprinted on people, so...I just don't know. Since this other duckling is also going to be raised indoors I don't know how I'd go about re-homing her if push comes to shove.

I would be willing to buy her back......

 

[Amykins]

No, that shouldn't be necessary, I'm just hoping they DO bond, is all. Speaking of my little stinker, have I mentioned how much having a house duck is like having a kid? I got myself some carrots to snack on, and I go into the bathroom for 30 seconds to wash my hands. 30 seconds, that's it. I come out and the first thing I see is a duck COVERED in ranch dressing! His entire bill and head were covered, and he'd splattered it all over my bedroom wall!

Don't worry, I already called it in, the ranch won't hurt him. I don't think he even ate that much, more like took a mouthful and then went PTOOEY all over my room.

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

No, that shouldn't be necessary, I'm just hoping they DO bond, is all. Speaking of my little stinker, have I mentioned how much having a house duck is like having a kid? I got myself some carrots to snack on, and I go into the bathroom for 30 seconds to wash my hands. 30 seconds, that's it. I come out and the first thing I see is a duck COVERED in ranch dressing! His entire bill and head were covered, and he'd splattered it all over my bedroom wall!

Don't worry, I already called it in, the ranch won't hurt him. I don't think he even ate that much, more like took a mouthful and then went PTOOEY all over my room.

But isn't it wonderful to come home and hear those little feet as they run out to greet you, quacking away!

 

[Amykins]

I'm sure it would, if I could leave my house. But I do admit it's sweet how he clambers up onto my pillow and pecks my forehead in the morning when he wants me to wake up and feed him.

P.S. How hard is it to clean ranch dressing out of an embroidered duvet...?

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

I'm sure it would, if I could leave my house. But I do admit it's sweet how he clambers up onto my pillow and pecks my forehead in the morning when he wants me to wake up and feed him.

P.S. How hard is it to clean ranch dressing out of an embroidered duvet...?

So precious!!!!! Our ducklings are due to hatch Monday or Tuesday, then I will be completely overrun with cuteness. I'm pretty sure the first place mom will take her brood will be out to the kitchen to steal the cat food.....

 

[kukupecpec]

I'm sure it would, if I could leave my house. But I do admit it's sweet how he clambers up onto my pillow and pecks my forehead in the morning when he wants me to wake up and feed him.

P.S. How hard is it to clean ranch dressing out of an embroidered duvet...?

Aw that's cute! ChaCha is crated at night or she gets up waaaay too early for me. She used to sleep right next to my pillow but for some reason has started waking up at 3am, and that just won't fly at my house. I try to take ChaCha with me everywhere i go buy there are some places she just can't and its so hard to leave her behind because she just cries and cries forever.

Anyone have any luck getting their duck into the grocery store?