The Duck Thread

[Jessica89]

Aw thank you
I will put them in two boxes next to each other first maybe? Winnie will be a week older than her companion. Would this be an issue?

She has really imprinted on me! I put her down in the garden ( supervised) to meet the female ducks. They were all really lovely with her but Winnie didn't want to know and just followed me!
I couldn't believe it!

 

[jtn42248]

Aw thank you
I will put them in two boxes next to each other first maybe? Winnie will be a week older than her companion. Would this be an issue?

She has really imprinted on me! I put her down in the garden ( supervised) to meet the female ducks. They were all really lovely with her but Winnie didn't want to know and just followed me!
I couldn't believe it!

It could be an issue at first but keeping them apart yet where they can see and hear one another will certainly help. Give it a week or two but play it by ear. It could be that they will hit it off right away. Winnie is going to react because she expects to be with you all the time. You are going to have to just get out the tissues and let her go through what she has to go through. Make certain that they can not hurt themselves on sharp edges or by trying to jump out of their boxes. Once it is all over and done with she will have a new friend that she can share being a duck with. You will be partially out of the picture but she will always have a space for you. Allow her to be what she is and all will be o.k.

 

[attimus]

Finally the Pymethrin is working for us to control the flies and is safe around the animals too. It's made from chrysanthemums. But it's not a one shot deal. Michael is out there spraying every day.TSC has stopped selling the reuseable Captivator fly traps but now selling Rescue something products. We buy the Rescue refills and use in the captivator containers. Still helps out.

Just want you to be safe. If your using permethrin it isn't safe for cats to be around it. And is actually the synthetic version of pyrethrum which is made from chrysanthemum. It was made to be more stable in sunlight than the original version.
I'm definitely looking into fly predators myself. As my flock volume grows so do the flies and I feel like I can't ever set enough traps. Maybe large populations of carnivorous plants will help.

 

[Amiga]

Just want you to be safe. If your using permethrin it isn't safe for cats to be around it. And is actually the synthetic version of pyrethrum which is made from chrysanthemum. It was made to be more stable in sunlight than the original version.
I'm definitely looking into fly predators myself. As my flock volume grows so do the flies and I feel like I can't ever set enough traps. Maybe large populations of carnivorous plants will help.

Though I don't have a scientific study to back it up at my place, I think that leaving little islands of native wildflowers and plants around the place brings in beneficial insects like predatory wasps (some of them so tiny you can barely notice them) helps with pests, including flies.

I do use fly predators, and a few traps.

And we also have some shrubby-bushy areas, and water out, and that attracts birds that eat flies and larvae. We are blessed with flycatchers, wrens, all kinds of insect eaters. And bats.

 

[Jessica89]

It could be an issue at first but keeping them apart yet where they can see and hear one another will certainly help. Give it a week or two but play it by ear. It could be that they will hit it off right away. Winnie is going to react because she expects to be with you all the time. You are going to have to just get out the tissues and let her go through what she has to go through. Make certain that they can not hurt themselves on sharp edges or by trying to jump out of their boxes. Once it is all over and done with she will have a new friend that she can share being a duck with. You will be partially out of the picture but she will always have a space for you. Allow her to be what she is and all will be o.k.

Awww it is really going to be upsetting as she is my little baby but I need to put her best interests at heart. She will be happier in a flock. Just hope she doesn;t grow up and be afraid of me like the others have!

We have been gardening in the sunshine this afternoon <3 My little helper!






I can't get over how much she has grown in 5 days!! Doubled in size. x

 

[Amiga]

 

[City farm]

I like the comfrey tea idea..

Sorry it took a while to respond - ever have one of those weeks?  T-Relief is a gel used for sprains.  I use it on myself and on my ducks.  It has arnica and comfrey, if I recall correctly.  Just a tiny dab, at night before bed so they don't wash it off quickly.

Oh we love arnica.. It is really amazing.. & yes busy few day's, I know what you mean.. Fun busy..

 

[City farm]

I agree these guys are great! About a week after the Cayuga babies had been released into the rest of the property, the geese decided that adoptive mom wasn't attentive enough and took over! And unless their parents teach them to fly and migrate the almost never do. One of the geese here is a baby the mom hatched here, mom and dad don't fly and their little has never even attempted it.

That is great to hear! When these little geese were day-olds they spent some time with the pekin and a mallard at my place and they were in love with both as parent figures its going to be interesting to see how a month has changed the both of them!

There is always a "get-ta-know-ya" stage.. & I love to hear that your geese stay put.. I hope you tell people that they are highly trained geese..

 

[City farm]

Hello everyone, So I incubated 5 eggs and only one hatched out. I have been really upset and hope they didn't suffer. Anyway, I have had my work cut out with one duckling, Winnie. She is amazing but it is worse than having anew born baby. ( Ended up sleeping on a cold wooden floor last night so she could see me!!) I absolutely adore her. She went shopping with me today in my cardigan pocket. Here she is fast asleep,,,, She is so precious. QUOTE] Agh, how precious!!! Cayuga ?? You are a wonderful mom... And I know how you feel when there is not a %100 hatch rate. Duck don't seem to have a high rate of hatching, it seems Did you sex her? It is easy if you know how? When you get your other duckling, duckling's ask them if they know how to sex them.. Oh, can't wait to see your new babies.. Keep us posted..

 

[Pekin1999]

There is always a "get-ta-know-ya" stage.. & I love to hear that your geese stay put.. I hope you tell people that they are highly trained geese..

I'm very confused by that comment, they aren't even mine. I had them a few days while my friend set up for them. I really don't even know what they look like now.