Support Group for Abused Duck Keepers

[BelovedBirds]

All the others sound…tasty

I don't know, I'm immune to duck filth by now. I kissed Sprightly on the head yesterday and definitely ingested a little of that delightful poopy pond water

You’re probably right about that! As you well know, I’m easily influenced

Oh shoot, I don't even remember typing that part about ducks being superior, I think Dougie stole my phone...

 

[BelovedBirds]

I’m quite good, thanks. Lots of losses, but there’s still joy to be found.
How about you? I hope the sisters have settled in their new palace nicely

Sorry to hear it! I'm glad you're doing okay though!

They're enjoying it here for sure, Sprightly had some initial interruptions to her adjustments. Poor girl had to deal with 6-7 hours of driving and then just as soon as she had settled she had multiple vet trips, lost a significant amount of weight, stopped eating, couldn't walk, all because of an absolutely vicious and sudden bumble infection. I was tube feeding her two-three times a day, raw egg, whey protein and sugar water. As well as 7 syringes of medicine a day...


But she is completely back to herself now - She's still being a big baby though, requesting cuddles most nights before bed, and she gets them too!

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh shoot, I don't even remember typing that part about ducks being superior, I think Dougie stole my phone...

Yup, that sounds like the Dougie I know !

I kissed Sprightly on the head yesterday and definitely ingested a little of that delightful poopy pond water

Sorry to hear it! I'm glad you're doing okay though!

They're enjoying it here for sure, Sprightly had some initial interruptions to her adjustments. Poor girl had to deal with 6-7 hours of driving and then just as soon as she had settled she had multiple vet trips, lost a significant amount of weight, stopped eating, couldn't walk, all because of an absolutely vicious and sudden bumble infection. I was tube feeding her two-three times a day, raw egg, whey protein and sugar water. As well as 7 syringes of medicine a day...


But she is completely back to herself now - She's still being a big baby though, requesting cuddles most nights before bed, and she gets them too!

Thanks.

Oh, poor Sprightly. I’m very glad she has you though. That was a lot of TLC! How is her laying now?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Oh, poor Sprightly. I’m very glad she has you though. That was a lot of TLC! How is her laying now?

Pretty good! She's not had any issues in quite a while, I'm happy to say! I get weird eggs from her very occassionally but nothing extreme or dangerous these days.

*touch wood*

 

[fluffycrow]

Pretty good! She's not had any issues in quite a while, I'm happy to say! I get weird eggs from her very occassionally but nothing extreme or dangerous these days.

*touch wood*

That’s wonderful to hear! Hope she keeps this up, though if it were it her control I’m sure she would.
Hopefully you both can leave the serious egg issues behind!

 

[BelovedBirds]

That’s what I said!
I’m a fan of muscovies because they’re quiet. Key word, “require”. Most people love to keep their chickens in large well protected runs.

I keep my water chickens in a big protected pen!

While there is no issue with this (and as proven by my losses, is quite safer), I enjoy this a lot more. View attachment 4310851View attachment 4310854Right now they’re all in jail (foxes), and I think I’m as miserable as they are about it!
Ducks can live incredible, healthy and long lives with smaller water sources, but I just know that I’d enjoy them in a large pond a lot more. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone

Of course not! You're perfectly okay to have your preferences, and they make complete sense! Having ducks is an awesome experience, of course you would want to experience it fully.

For me, it's quite simple with my girls, in the days I would free range them under supervision, they certainly enjoyed it- especially when I ran alongside them (they'd fly as best they can! Which is... well you know. They tried) but they also started to get bored of it. I'd encourage them out for a stroll and they'd go back towards their pen quite quickly! At our previous home, I'd leave the door open when I'd go in the pen, potter about doing whatever and they would generally not care to leave.

Dougie would occassionally step outside to nibble some grass but I'd usually look at her, do a very loud and pointed "ahem" and she's scurry her fluff butt back inside.

I think for my two, they're quite simple creatures, they like their pond (any size and shape) to splash in, and their food, and their grass patch. I know I couldn't free range them anyways as they stand in the middle of the lawn staring up at the sky blissfully watching birds of prey over their heads. The amount of times I'd have to go and collect them because they were so unbothered...

But all that said, I get your preference. If I were starting afresh with a flock of ducks, I'd be wanting a really big pond and massive covered garden for them. Necessary or not, I'm sure nothing beats seeing them all swimming/diving and running about.

 

[Goosebaby]

I know I couldn't free range them anyways as they stand in the middle of the lawn staring up at the sky blissfully watching birds of prey over their heads. The amount of times I'd have to go and collect them because they were so unbothered...

I’ve noticed that with my own ducks. Estella, Rosebud, Avis have a bad habit of wanting to follow squirrels off into the woods, and their reaction to my brother bringing his new puppy over was to approach the new puppy.
Overall I’m not surprised anymore after the “friend” the ducks “adopted” in 2024. The geese were apparently aware of Orange long before I was because they weren’t too bothered either, except for Delphi who’d been on her nest for awhile and like me wasn’t aware of the all goings on around the yard.

This was the day I turned around and became aware of Orange, meanwhile the ducks were so unbothered Truffle was even preening in her presence.







I’ve been keeping a lot closer eye on what goes on in the yard since then.