The Duck-ponics Experiment - Raising minnows

[love_a_duck]

Quote:
the ducks command it!

 

[jellybean]

I ordered that pump, we'll see how it works! So I had a bad surprise today. Two dead baby geese. Last night I hadn't seen any trying to hatch and I couldn't hear any either. But this afternoon there was a dead baby that was all fluffy and dry with a bloody head, and one that was still warm and hadn't been hatched long. The goofy female goose had blood on her head and chest. The duck was upset and pacing by the door, and the goofy goose (Lucy) was on the duck nest. There were two broken duck eggs, partially developed. She immediately was thrown out of the pen. I put the only two duck eggs left with seven goose eggs. The duck was thrilled and took over the nest immediately.

I didn't think one goose would kill another's babies? But the duck eggs keep getting broken and going missing, and I know these two were Lucy's doing. I'm wondering if the two left will even make it. I was hoping for more female ducks, think I'll visit a friend and see if he has any babies this year. Lucy has always been the odd goose out, constantly harassed by the male ducks, but mostly accepted by the geese. She took over the duck nest, even sitting on the duck as the duck wouldn't move. She almost suffocated the duck. So I split the nests up (Lucy had several eggs in there as well), and she kept going back and forth kicking the duck off. She'd then take the eggs to her own nest. But I didn't think she'd kill the babies? Maybe the mother thought she was going to help take care of them rather than take them and kill them? The newly hatched one was clear across the duck house by Lucy's nest, nowhere near the nest it came from.

I feel bad I didn't check on them earlier, I could have saved them, at least the one that had barely been killed. But I saw no signs of hatching yesterday and didn't think any would be fully hatched by today. Both babies looked healthy, I'm just sad about it. I've never heard of a goose doing this, but she is a bit weird and verrryyyy protective. She's attacked me several times when dealing with her stolen eggs. Homer (the other female- we thought she was a male and then just never changed her name!) is soooo sweet. I can pet her and handle her eggs and she never bites or gets upset, just honks quietly and watches me. I think she'll be a good mother, she was the one that imprinted the most on us.

 

[Tropical Chook]

I posted a while back about Chinese Water Spinach, but then I got thinking............it's great for ducks to eat, but because of that, you cannot have it growing in your duck pond, and as I'm in the process of making pond, I needed to find something which can be grown in the pond to help keep the water clean, while at the same time not being something the ducks would like to eat. Anyway, I already have a tiny pond and in the last year and a half, I have only cleaned it out once, and that because my 3 year old daughter thought the fish may appreciate a pork chop. Well, even though it's been about six months now, the water is crystal clear, something which I credited the little fish for. Then I started thinking about the plants I have in the pond. I had no idea what they were, but I noticed a few local in the area also have them in their ponds, and their water is also crystal clear. So, onto Google I went, and I discovered they are called water lettuce.

As I scoop out handfuls every week (or else my dogs can't get water), I thought I would offer some to my ducks. Sure they took one or two nibbles, but then they wanted nothing to do with it. So, if you need to grow something in your duck pond to help condition the water, check it out. I checked on Ebay and there are several US sellers selling it, so getting some shouldn't be a problem for those of you living in the US. It's probably the first plant I've come across that my ducks don't eat.....lol. It's amazing how quickly they finish a banana leaf that's almost two meters long.

Ah well, I know this may be useless info, but I've learned so much on here already, I just feel I need to try and contribute something as well.

Take care all
TC

 

[WadeMD]

As noted in the other thread...

It has also been introduced to the United States where its high growth rate has caused it to become an environmental problem, especially in Florida and Texas. It has been officially designated by the USDA as a "noxious weed" (the term "noxious" refers to its effect on the environment, not to any toxicity)

Be careful with where you use this plant. Any ponds that have access to open water or that bird's transit through can be a source for this exotic and it can ruin local ecosystems.

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/waterspinach.shtml​

 

[treldib]

Is there a Moby II yet?

 

[Wifezilla]

Moby has been replaced by a small school of Rosy minnows. They are doing well, but no new babies yet. I doubt these things will get as big as Moby did, but they are eating the mosquito larvae and that's all I care about

 

[treldib]

Quote:

 

[DaKid]

I think the best pump to use on a duck pond would be a waste pump , all other type of pumps would end up clogging up

waste pump to some type of leave basket to fitler and then back to pond

 

[dumb_cluck]

Wifezilla, it's been a pleasure reading this thread! Keep us up to date. I am subscribed.

You have inspired me to clean out the kiddie pools! My ducks aren't particular to the looks of their "pond(s)", so I let them make a total mess. It's fun to watch and they really enjoy themselves.

It's just about to rain, so I will wait until tomorrow for some pix. I started with one BIG kiddie pool and now have added two smaller ones to accommodate the other two cliques. (You can read the story on my website)

Our yard has a gentle slope downward toward the garage. Because of the run-off, the previous owner dug a french drain around the garage. Seems to be perfect for where I put the "ponds". The local frogs love it and if you approach real quiet like, you can count the eyeballs peering out of the mud. (Mud is the aftermath of dirt + water + ducks.)

I used portable dog pens attached together to make a labyrinth of 3 corridors for each clique. Bill, Jill and Sally get the biggest one, Skittles and Penny get the next biggest and Donald (Bertha) gets the little one.

"Bertha" was supposed to be a girl friend for Skittles. However, "Bertha" is really a "Donald". So, back to looking for a bride for Skittles.

I found "Penny" at local farm where they just had ducks everywhere! She was not missed so she was given to me for free. Didn't like "Free" for a name, so Penny was the ticket.

Now Skittles has his lady, but now I have Donald a bachelor! Grrrrrrr

Maybe next year, I can't keep up with the duck math right now.
Besides my 5 Speckled Sussex, I have 6 ducks and my mini horse occupying the entire back of the garage which is now known as the "barn".

I promise pix of the ponds tomorrow!

Here tis!

 

[honeydoll]

Yep, my kiddie pond became a mosquito dream land.