The Quack Shack

[Canadian Wind]

I had ducks laying their first, tiny eggs at an age of three months and withing six months everybody was paying the rent. I'm not sure if the drakes have an influence on that.
The drake simulation is more of a ritual to cement the pecking order.

Maybe Muscovies are different? - Unless the ducklings matured into the winter season, mine all have to start laying in the same year.
But wait, Canada! - Haven't you already had your week of summer this year?

Harharhar, very funny. We get TWO weeks of summer, thankyouverymuch!

Usually ducklings arrive here May or later, so getting eggs before Autumn moult doesn't happen, and then it's too cold. So, I start getting them in the Spring.

 

[Supercow]

There we go ...

You know, I took a closer look when she was standing there and on another surface and it seemed to me as though she were standing on her heels. If i ran on my heels I would also not make it far and would keel over in the end. Is this a known situation in young ducks? Will the B-complex that we're adding help?

We're still of the opinion that the little duck was most of all very malnourished ... It's just a question of what can still be remedied?

 

[Canadian Wind]

Happy Third Monday to Everybody!​

Buffzilla says: »More is better!« - Now there are at least three ducklings that have hatched. Two black and yellow little fuzzballs and one gray/yellow very shy one. There's maybe more, but i can't tell as everybody is hiding under momma duck, except for the first hatched which is exploring the upper level of the duck-house.

Here you go, right to left Momma Duck, Black Fuzzball #2, Gray Fuzzball and to the left Black Fuzzball #1, exploring the food container:
View attachment 3532679

Awww, sweet! So these ones are the Fluffzilla clutch?

 

[Supercow]

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

They are in the house about 9 pm to 6 am and half of one side of the house is a full height chicken wire door which lets in the light fully and is south-east oriented. Also some vent openings in the corners but those are small.

My eyesight is not really olympic but the eggs should be large and white, I think I should be able to notice ... or maybe one of these days there will be somebody visiting and go oooh what's with all the eggs

The underside of the house is blocked with a wire mesh; there are some semi-hidden spaces in the bushes inside the orchard so I'll take a closer look just in case.

You would be surprised how inventive ducks can be when hiding their eggs! - Pinball duck secretly built a nest under the garage roof's overhang - i live on a hill and on one corner there's just three hands between the ground and the garage roof - and there she built her nest, started to collect eggs and finally sat.
Eggs being laid outside are quickly discovered by the crows and eaten before i even notice. Sometimes i find empty shells, most cases i'll be unaware of.
Bushes are the favorite places for ducks! They provide shade, cover and nesting material…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Harharhar, very funny. We get TWO weeks of summer, thankyouverymuch!

Usually ducklings arrive here May or later, so getting eggs before Autumn moult doesn't happen, and then it's too cold. So, I start getting them in the Spring.

At least you have spring! - Colleague from Minnesota told me they have only two seasons: Winter and Road Construction…
The first ducklings i mail-ordered arrived in February and went outside by the end of March. In May i got swamped with eggs, sometimes mor eggs per day than there were ducks.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

There we go ...

You know, I took a closer look when she was standing there and on another surface and it seemed to me as though she were standing on her heels. If i ran on my heels I would also not make it far and would keel over in the end. Is this a known situation in young ducks? Will the B-complex that we're adding help?

We're still of the opinion that the little duck was most of all very malnourished ... It's just a question of what can still be remedied?

View attachment 3532691View attachment 3532690View attachment 3532689View attachment 3532688View attachment 3532687

She seems to stand a bit awkward, but that's maybe because she doesn't want to be held. It looks like she is tip-toeing. When she walks, does she set the whole foot down on the ground or is she walking on her toes - yesiknow ducks always walk on their toes - but you understand what i mean? Or is she walking on her heels?
If you think there is an issue with how she walks, can you add a bit vitamin D to her diet? Some fish maybe.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Awww, sweet! So these ones are the Fluffzilla clutch?

I don't know yet! They are not out of the woods: They and Buffzilla has to master the task to transition from being in and around the nest to the duck yard. I assume the upcoming weekend… Over the years i have become somewhat hesitant with naming ducks…

 

[Supercow]

She seems to stand a bit awkward, but that's maybe because she doesn't want to be held. It looks like she is tip-toeing. When she walks, does she set the whole foot down on the ground or is she walking on her toes - yesiknow ducks always walk on their toes - but you understand what i mean? Or is she walking on her heels?
If you think there is an issue with how she walks, can you add a bit vitamin D to her diet? Some fish maybe.

Vitamin D is presumably part of the vitamin concentrate we are adding to her water but yes, I guess I can try with fish. But is canned fish OK - I mean because of the salt and oil? I do have some salmon in the deep freeze...

 

[Canadian Wind]

I don't know yet! They are not out of the woods: They and Buffzilla has to master the task to transition from being in and around the nest to the duck yard. I assume the upcoming weekend… Over the years i have become somewhat hesitant with naming ducks…

I know what you mean. This is Dainty's first time as a mom and she's doing a good job so far, but it's up to her to keep her brood safe and well tended to.