Show off your house ducks!

[Amykins]

is he an anomaly of duck? Cute little bitty mini web footed drake. How's his landing when he hits the floor?

I've got wall to wall carpeting, so he always has a soft landing. But sometimes he lands on his back or gets too excited when jumping around the house and trips, and let me tell you, he sucks at righting himself. I dunno if it's cuz of the diaper, or just a leftover quirk from ducklinghood since he was really weak coming out of the shell and needed lots of niacin and TLC to get him up and walking around. But either way, Wobbles is a very, very appropriate name!

I really need to get a video of it sometime cuz it really is tragically adorable, although I feel lousy recording it instead of helping the poor guy. He just lies there like a bowling pin, barely even wiggling his toes! After a while he just looks at me as if to say "HALP!" Sometimes he gets it right and uses his wings to correct himself, but for some reason he hasn't filed that into his long-term memory. ><

 

[drumstick diva]

Does he have opportunities to swim? That should build muscle tone and maybe straighten him out. Have you gotten any professional (vet) assessments on his condition?

 

[Amykins]

Does he have opportunities to swim? That should build muscle tone and maybe straighten him out. Have you gotten any professional (vet) assessments on his condition?

Ohhh yes, yes I have. I'm a veterinary assistant and for my post-graduate internship I worked at a clinic that exclusively treats birds and nothing else. My former boss has 20 years' experience with chickens, ducks and geese. He had a blood screening and x-rays one, and all tests say there's nothing physically wrong with him. He's just an idiot.

 

[drumstick diva]

Aw I wouldn't say he was an idiot, he just marches er waddles to the sound of a different drummer. I think if people knew him he would be more popular than Grumpy cat.

 

[SilkieSensation]

It actually sounds like a bit of learned helplessness to me. When he was a baby he got way too used to having you there to help him up. Now he expects you to always do it for him. The best thing you can do is stop helping him up & force him to do it himself.

 

[18angovem]

I've got wall to wall carpeting, so he always has a soft landing. But sometimes he lands on his back or gets too excited when jumping around the house and trips, and let me tell you, he sucks at righting himself. I dunno if it's cuz of the diaper, or just a leftover quirk from ducklinghood since he was really weak coming out of the shell and needed lots of niacin and TLC to get him up and walking around. But either way, Wobbles is a very, very appropriate name!

I really need to get a video of it sometime cuz it really is tragically adorable, although I feel lousy recording it instead of helping the poor guy. He just lies there like a bowling pin, barely even wiggling his toes! After a while he just looks at me as if to say "HALP!" Sometimes he gets it right and uses his wings to correct himself, but for some reason he hasn't filed that into his long-term memory. ><

My little white duckie (Named prince charming) used to do that! But he was so squat he couldnt right himself. I used to tell him thats the problem with being famous (Because he won shows around here. He won because he was SQ so he was squat) I used to walk outside and see him on his back with his feet in the air just kicking! I dont know how long he was like that but if I didnt help he couldnt right himself. He would fall off the 6 inch ramp going into the coop. lol

My aunt even called him dumb butt.!

 

[Julie Birb]

I've got wall to wall carpeting, so he always has a soft landing. But sometimes he lands on his back or gets too excited when jumping around the house and trips, and let me tell you, he sucks at righting himself. I dunno if it's cuz of the diaper, or just a leftover quirk from ducklinghood since he was really weak coming out of the shell and needed lots of niacin and TLC to get him up and walking around. But either way, Wobbles is a very, very appropriate name!

I really need to get a video of it sometime cuz it really is tragically adorable, although I feel lousy recording it instead of helping the poor guy. He just lies there like a bowling pin, barely even wiggling his toes! After a while he just looks at me as if to say "HALP!"  Sometimes he gets it right and uses his wings to correct himself, but for some reason he hasn't filed that into his long-term memory. ><

glad you have the carpeting. I bet your theory about the diaper is what really makes it hard to get out of his bowling pin position. I hope though he is fully recovered from his early deficiency. From what you have posted in the recent past, he's a feisty and strong willed lil guy. So much personality packed into that doll baby.

 

[Julie Birb]

Ohhh yes, yes I have. I'm a veterinary assistant and for my post-graduate internship I worked at a clinic that exclusively treats birds and nothing else. My former boss has 20 years' experience with chickens, ducks and geese. He had a blood screening and x-rays one, and all tests say there's nothing physically wrong with him. He's just an idiot.

you are funny

 

[Julie Birb]

No matter how duck proof I think I have the house, there is always something else they find and try to eat!!

Tragedy hit this afternoon. Mama saxony had set up shop and was preparing to lay a new clutch. She left her next box to forage, and got gang raped by the geese. She escaped the first gander only to get tagged by the second one as she scrambled for the porch. I heard the commotion and opened up the back door and called to her. She fought off a khaki campbell drake on the way to the door but scrambled into the house and immediately collapsed into a shaking heap on the kitchen floor. She hates diapers, and gives everyone in the household back sass, but I have never seen a bird look more relieved to be inside. Her ducklings don't know she's back yet, as they have been sleeping away in the family room, oblivious to the noise. I'll check her over once she relaxes a bit. I want her to feel that she is 100% safe.
I must have done something right by her, even though we thought she hated us, because as soon as I called her she dredged up every ounce of energy she had left to make it into that open door where I was calling her.
So she will be a permanent house duck...

how is Mama Saxony doing today?

 

[Amykins]

My little white duckie (Named prince charming) used to do that! But he was so squat he couldnt right himself. I used to tell him thats the problem with being famous (Because he won shows around here. He won because he was SQ so he was squat) I used to walk outside and see him on his back with his feet in the air just kicking! I dont know how long he was like that but if I didnt help he couldnt right himself. He would fall off the 6 inch ramp going into the coop. lol

My aunt even called him dumb butt.!

Hehe "dumb butt". <3 I wonder if maybe it IS because he's so squat and chubby? I mean, he's a top-quality call duck, squat and chubby is practically a given. And he always falls off his ramp, LOL! Wonder if Wobs and Princey share a common ancestor.

how is Mama Saxony doing today?

Yes, please give us an update!