Texas

[tiedyemommy]

@Starfire669 , it's a shame Howard is acting out so much...especially against Ebony. They never so much as looked at one another while living with me. Maybe I missed some behind-the-scenes aggression, but none of them let on any trouble had occurred.

You were open about your concerns regarding having a drake in your flock, but I'm glad you bought him anyway, and didn't make me split up the group.

I'm sad to think he might be visiting freezer camp so soon. Part of the reason we didn't turn him into duck dinner was because he was so young (and had never, to our knowledge, caused any trouble). I hoped he would go somewhere where he could have as many ladies as he wanted & made tons of adorable Pekin ducklings.

Didn't you say you had a neighbor with Pekins? Would they be interested in Howard? Or, you could post a Craigslist ad, or a BYC ad (maybe in https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/742668/pekin-duck-club/3630) for someone willing to give Howard a home & harem? Ultimately this is your decision...but why not try to sell him make a little money off him for your troubles?

- TieDyeMommy

 

[Starfire669]

Went to do some weeding in my garden today.And noticed a dang amridillo rooted around in it last night. Ohhh that bugger is going down now. I told hubby I was gonna take that thing out with the 22 first chance I see it. Teach it to try and eat my garden.

You get that garden robber. You didn't work that hard planting it to feed him!

 

[Starfire669]

@Starfire669
, it's a shame Howard is acting out so much...especially against Ebony.  They never so much as looked at one another while living with me.  Maybe I missed some behind-the-scenes aggression, but none of them let on any trouble had occurred. 

You were open about your concerns regarding having a drake in your flock, but I'm glad you bought him anyway, and didn't make me split up the group. 

I'm sad to think he might be visiting freezer camp so soon.  Part of the reason we didn't turn him into duck dinner was because he was so young (and had never, to our knowledge, caused any trouble).  I hoped he would go somewhere where he could have as many ladies as he wanted & made tons of adorable Pekin ducklings. 

Didn't you say you had a neighbor with Pekins?  Would they be interested in Howard?  Or, you could post a Craigslist ad, or a BYC ad (maybe in https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/742668/pekin-duck-club/3630) for someone willing to give Howard a home & harem?  Ultimately this is your decision...but why not try to sell him make a little money off him for your troubles? 

- TieDyeMommy

My neighbor has an older, mature Pekin drake. I think sending Howard there would cause him misery and a good beat down without any hens. I am looking into trading/selling him. I'd like him to live a long happy life as well. I think that having a lot more room, pools, companions, and yummies everyday may have something to do with Howard's behavior. He isn't king here, the geese are. And he clearly prefers Ivory and Loudmouth as his mates. He follows them everywhere. He makes advances towards Daisy, but she rarely accepts them. For whatever reason, he is taking out his aggression on Ebony. Since they have only been here a week, I'll give him more time to see if he settles down. If not, I am talking to a friend that has some Pekin ducks. He would take Howard right now, if I sent a female or 2 with him. So I would have to split the girls and I am not sure I want to do that. It's a very tough decision, one that I really don't want to make to be honest.

You said Howard was a rescue. Do you know anything about where he came from?

 

[aatx]

Have 3 in the "hospital box" now.

Two developed crop problems sometime yesterday. Not sure if they could have eaten some shavings or what. Not sure if it is slow, impacted, sour, etc. So, they went into a box without food. Just plain water, heat lamp, and some Activia yogurt. Puppy pad instead of shavings. Dripped some olive oil on their beaks and smeared a bit of monistat on there too for them to lick off. Not sure if it matters any, but they are both dominique bantams. I received 7 of them and 3 of them died within the first 24 hours. We had wondered if there might not be some problems with the batch of them. Now with 2 more having crop problems, that only leaves 2 that appear healthy.

Added a blue silkie to the box as well. I put in the actual chick trough feeder with the holes today. They were climbing all around it. When I got home at lunch, I noticed it had a limp, so I am thinking it could have injured itself on the new feeder. I removed the trough and went back to the plates. I put it in with the other two chicks so I wouldn't have to worry so much about it getting stepped on by the others. Hoping it is just a sprain - I could not find any injury or hot spot. I'll feed it on its own tonight and see if it is any better.

 

[tiedyemommy]

My neighbor has an older, mature Pekin drake. I think sending Howard there would cause him misery and a good beat down without any hens. I am looking into trading/selling him. I'd like him to live a long happy life as well. I think that having a lot more room, pools, companions, and yummies everyday may have something to do with Howard's behavior. He isn't king here, the geese are. And he clearly prefers Ivory and Loudmouth as his mates. He follows them everywhere. He makes advances towards Daisy, but she rarely accepts them. For whatever reason, he is taking out his aggression on Ebony. Since they have only been here a week, I'll give him more time to see if he settles down. If not, I am talking to a friend that has some Pekin ducks. He would take Howard right now, if I sent a female or 2 with him. So I would have to split the girls and I am not sure I want to do that. It's a very tough decision, one that I really don't want to make to be honest.

You said Howard was a rescue. Do you know anything about where he came from?

All I know is that the previous owner of the flock (Tod) watched someone abandon Howard at the duck pond a block from our house. Howard immediately began walking up a hiking trail, into a wooded area & away from the water, and Tod feared for Howard's safety. He was able to easily catch him and bring him home...and Howard blended with the whole flock (5 chickens & 4 ducks) effortlessly. He'd lived with the flock for about a month before we got 'em (about 2 months, total, now).

- TieDyeMommy

 

[tiedyemommy]

Not sure if it's because The Ladies are getting used to us, or if it's because we clipped their wings...or both...but they seem to be less twitchy around us. We can pet them, at times, and a couple of them prefer to eat snacks out of our hands. Since our daughter really wants to pet/hold/feed them, we've informed her that they won't get close to her if she keeps chasing/scaring them every chance she gets...so she has curbed that quite a bit, and is actually able to help us hand out snacks & pet them while they're eating.

All-in-all, this is becoming everything we hoped, and more. I can see us adding to the flock fairly soon...but not just yet. Don't want to do too much too soon.

(Sending good vibes Howard's way...May he realize how good he's got it & stop acting like a punk)

- TieDyeMommy

 

[Starfire669]

All I know is that the previous owner of the flock (Tod) watched someone abandon Howard at the duck pond a block from our house.  Howard immediately began walking up a hiking trail, into a wooded area & away from the water, and Tod feared for Howard's safety.  He was able to easily catch him and bring him home...and Howard blended with the whole flock (5 chickens & 4 ducks) effortlessly.  He'd lived with the flock for about a month before we got 'em (about 2 months, total, now).

- TieDyeMommy

So there is no way of knowing if his behavior could be due to something from his previous home. I would assume that anyone that would abandon a duck would either neglect him or abuse him. Man some people are just jerks.

 

[tiedyemommy]

So there is no way of knowing if his behavior could be due to something from his previous home. I would assume that anyone that would abandon a duck would either neglect him or abuse him. Man some people are just jerks.

Some people are jerks.

I hope he wasn't mistreated by his previous, previous owners. Maybe they found out he was a drake & decided they didn't want ducklings & didn't know what else to do with him. This is a nice area, and the pond was newly renovated. My thinking is they selected quite a plush spot to drop off a bird they didn't care about.

- TieDyeMommy

 

[lisaterrell88]

You get that garden robber. You didn't work that hard planting it to feed him!

Nope I sure didnt. I am looking forward to fried sqaush and fried green tomatoes lol

 

[Starfire669]

Some people are jerks.     I hope he wasn't mistreated by his previous, previous owners.  Maybe they found out he was a drake & decided they didn't want ducklings & didn't know what else to do with him.  This is a nice area, and the pond was newly renovated.  My thinking is they selected quite a plush spot to drop off a bird they didn't care about.

- TieDyeMommy

It was still a death sentence for him, he would have no idea how to survive. Something would have had a nice duck meal. It's the same as dropping off dogs and cats, it's a death sentence and people need to realize that. It's kinder to euthanize than dump.

Sorry, I know I sound harsh. But I have seen pets hit by cars, shot, attacked by other strays, die from starvation, or just cry because they want their family back. It's heartbreaking and they don't deserve it.