The Quack Shack

[Supercow]

Very good looking mallards

 

[Luv Ducks]

Very good looking mallards

They remind me of the males I had which were so pretty too. I now have one that is a snowy mallard and was in a runner bin at our local Rural King. He is absolutely beautiful but has no white ring around his neck and his head sheens from green to blue at times. He was shaped as a Runner duck as a duckling but now just sits horizontal so I am not sure what he actually is. I am hoping he will go easy on my girls as I think he is beautiful.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Mr. Limpy had a generous day: He invited the wild Mallards over to a nice dinner:

All twenty-five of them…

He just wanted some fresh vent

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I don't think that the very next egg after mating is already been fertilized, i would wait a day or two before collecting hatching eggs.
Are you sure, that you want to go through with ducklings at this time of the year?
Are you sure that you want to go through with ducklings at all?
Remember, the male to female rate is about 50:50 - if the universe likes you…
Let me tell you, that little ducklings will steal your heart immediately and if something goes wrong it feels like being stabbed into your heart.
Would you be able to »get rid« of excess drakes that you have raised from egg to ducknager?
Since last year, i have learned that hatching duckies is a bittersweet experience...

My neighbor takes some. I have a woman I call the island of misfit ducks that takes my crested. I have another friend that will take them. Haven't had any problem rehomng yet.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Update on Blanca Duck and El Chapo Duckman:
It seems that El Chapo is able to see pretty well again, at least he is able to notice meal-worms in bathtub-water and peas in the water container - he loves peas!
Blanca is still a mixed bag, here she is on the patio with »Chapolito« and she is dragging her right foot behind:

And here she is preening after her bath, standing stable on both feet:

I am not sure if that is due to the luke-warm water, the meal-worm supported physical training or just a coincidence. And i wonder if something like a boot or a shoe (sandal?) would help her foot joint to heal

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd sure try something to support her foot. Is it broken of maybe nerve damage?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Her foots not curled up. I would leave if alonw

 

[Miss Lydia]

And let her keep walking the way she was without support? until she has more damage done to it?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

At this point I'm just collecting "technical information" - we would start incubating the eggs one way or another in March or more likely April when we can count on having user-friendly weather at the time of hatching.

Your points about ducklings are very valid. I realize that even though one is prepared rationally any serious problems, as well as managing surplus drakes, feel different and very acute when they actually happen.

So it's not a 100% decision yet but we felt that having a drake in the flock seems like a good thing whether we move forward with ducklings this year or not, especially since he's a really fine specimen and the KC breed is for some reason relatively rare in our country.

If you're lucky, one of your ducks might go broody. Which is way better than hatching and raising the ducklings yourself. Don't get me wrong, my memories of »duck-shit everywhere« are fading (that's why i keep a jar with duck-poop in my office ) and the good memories of little duckies sleeping under my hand and on my feet i don't want to miss, but ducklings are a lot of work, a lot!! and a good momma duck taking care of the little ones is the best thing that can happen.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Was that Blanca in the background screaming about giving those freeloaders all *her* food?

Yes, that was her. - There are some pale and some red mallards out there since Blanca opened her bill. No clue what dirty quacks she said, but she was using some strong language…