The Quack Shack

[WannaBeHillBilly]

In the Slovenian language the literal "sea dog" is "morski pes" which is a shark. Maybe that's a good thought as well but... I'm guessing ducks are not familiar with sharks in the first place and it could be more of an attraction than a threat.

So in Slovenian it is a »marine dog«? - I remember as a kid there was an R/C toy submarine in the form of a mini shark. That would sour the pond-experience for the ducks...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Good morning to everyone except for the roof surfing peafowl

What is wrong with the roof?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I wonder what type of duck that is and also what type of cat? That was such a Sweet Video, I loved it!!! I just have never seen a duck that looked like that nor a cat either.

No clue about the cat, but the grown up duck could be an Ancona with a little to much white - or just a BarnYard-Surprise duck.
If you search for "cat loves ducklings", there's plenty of videos on YuckTube.

 

[Luv Ducks]

No clue about the cat, but the grown up duck could be an Ancona with a little to much white - or just a BarnYard-Surprise duck.
If you search for "cat loves ducklings", there's plenty of videos on YuckTube.

Thanks, I was just curious as I had never seen one that looked like either the duck or the cat before.

 

[Supercow]

In the Slovenian language the literal "sea dog" is "morski pes" which is a shark. Maybe that's a good thought as well but... I'm guessing ducks are not familiar with sharks in the first place and it could be more of an attraction than a threat.

On that note, I was bringing peas to the ducks yesterday and found a fat earthworm along the way which looked dead but fresh, so I hung it over the side of the bowl.

The first duck to arrive was eyeing it suspiciously... what is this dark sorcery happening with our bowl... and moved away.

The second one tried to grab it but it didn't work out so it flopped back (it was a large one) and she got visibly scared and moved away.

The third duck came in, was delighted, grabbed the worm and ran away because everybody else, including the first two, started running at her to make her share.

They are somewhat similar to humans....

 

[Supercow]

It looks like our frozen weeks are coming early this week. From Sunday onwards we're promised threatened with at least 10 days (that's how far out the forecast goes) of all-day freezing temps with single digit F overnight.

I guess this will be test of how ready we, and the ducks, really are for the winter -- below freezing all day brings new challenges especially concerning water.

Yes, we're still newbies compared to Canada, that much is clear. Still, it's a challenge.

I hope we make it out OK and can then be confident enough to add a drake in the spring. For some reason Khaki Campbells are somewhat hard to find in Slovenia and nearby countries. They really are great layers so we're thinking of hatching our own for sale.

At 5-ish F it should not yet be necessary to add any kind of heating for ducks, right?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

On that note, I was bringing peas to the ducks yesterday and found a fat earthworm along the way which looked dead but fresh, so I hung it over the side of the bowl.

The first duck to arrive was eyeing it suspiciously... what is this dark sorcery happening with our bowl... and moved away.

The second one tried to grab it but it didn't work out so it flopped back (it was a large one) and she got visibly scared and moved away.

The third duck came in, was delighted, grabbed the worm and ran away because everybody else, including the first two, started running at her to make her share.

They are somewhat similar to humans....

Me last year coming from the garden with a bucket full of berry-tomatoes, throwing the not pristine looking ones to the ducks...
Runner Ducks: »run for the hills, the humon is throwing things at us!«
2022 Ducks: » whadda noise? Lemme doze!«
2023 Ducknagers: »Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! (Running into the duck-house for cover.)«

Then Blanca Duck came 'round the corner of the house, i just called her name, showed her one of the full-size Tomatoes and she came screaming and flapping towards me to get her price.
The Runners have not learned how to eat an uncut tomato until today.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

It looks like our frozen weeks are coming early this week. From Sunday onwards we're promised threatened with at least 10 days (that's how far out the forecast goes) of all-day freezing temps with single digit F overnight.

I guess this will be test of how ready we, and the ducks, really are for the winter -- below freezing all day brings new challenges especially concerning water.

Yes, we're still newbies compared to Canada, that much is clear. Still, it's a challenge.

I hope we make it out OK and can then be confident enough to add a drake in the spring. For some reason Khaki Campbells are somewhat hard to find in Slovenia and nearby countries. They really are great layers so we're thinking of hatching our own for sale.

At 5-ish F it should not yet be necessary to add any kind of heating for ducks, right?

The one thing that i have learned in having ducks for more than five years is that they can cope with freezing temperatures way better than with a heat-wave. Mature mallard-derived ducks don't need any kind of heating at all. Muscovies are a bit different, they origin from a warmer climate and their caruncles are sensitive to frost-bite in very low temperatures, like those of a Canadian Winter.

 

[Canadian Wind]

At 5-ish F it should not yet be necessary to add any kind of heating for ducks, right?

No, no extra heating. It messes with their internal thermostat. Mine (even the Muscovy) did fine last year with temps dropping to -30 C for several days, and even one case of -50.

 

[Supercow]

No, no extra heating. It messes with their internal thermostat. Mine (even the Muscovy) did fine last year with temps dropping to -30 C for several days, and even one case of -50.

Well at -50 I'd be more worried about myself... But it's good to hear the ducks don't mind. I've built them a little tent for the time when it's cold and they don't really feel like walking around much and yet not so cold that they would stay in the their house. I've also added extra amounts of sunflowers (we have our own) and corn (everybody in the village has that, except us) to the daily mix.