The Quack Shack

[Luv Ducks]

Thanks!

You are most welcome and Thank You!!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

[…]

... And now something about ducks!

Our little and not-so-little ducklings are growing, they will now be 5 and 9 months old. They all have feathers and they are developing their voices. One is whistling like a songbird, quite interesting. The big drake is soooo motivated to get into their enclosure but he just can't. Keeps running along the fence all day though.

Poor drake!
From the rescue ducknagers, the two white, smaller, Runner looking ones are definitely quaxing, the other three, including the one with the not yet decided but definitely non-poop related name, are still whistling, therefore drakes. As they all have started to grow their flight feathers i am 90% sure the genders are revealed.

The adult ducks are at 50% of their laying production - must be the heat. I'm looking out for serious molting but haven't really seen that yet.

I am down to 5-8 eggs per day, where there should be between 15-20. Its the combination of the heat and the broody hormones.
Also a complete clean-out of the dux-house and -run is overdue…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Some duck therapy today -- the 8 young ones are super skittish and run around like a headless chickens when we come in to pack them up for the night.

So we grab one, flip it around so it's a bit confused, then gently caress the belly, the neck... they calm down a bit. Or maybe they are just frozen with fear? I don't think so, they seem relaxed and make baby coo sounds.

The one on the photo seems a bit weirded out but in general it did seem to have a calming effect. Will do that for a week and see what happens.

View attachment 3881497

A lot of my ducks calm down significantly if i cover their heads with one my hands, that seems to remind them to the time when they were ducklings and stuck their heads under their momma - or my hand, in case of the incubator gang.
I had to "rescue" plenty of Sunny's ducklings today and yesterday (they have not figured out how to hop up the step to the patio) and i made it a habit to sit down with whoever i have "rescued" in the recliner and keep them under my hands. They seem to like that very much, calm down and fall asleep…
Then suddenly wake up, hobble three steps backwards and poop.

 

[Supercow]

I think this snail could be too much even for ducks...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1808732810666000839

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I think this snail could be too much even for ducks...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1808732810666000839

That snail looks as if it could eat a duck!

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Here it's go out and shoot the gun day. Fireworks too but thankfully not close.

Who are you shootin at?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Who are you shootin at?

I'm not shootin it's the guy across the river he shoots a lot so my animals are used to that noise and they also made it through the fireworks too.

 

[Jenbirdee]

upgraded feeding station for the geese… got this old playhouse for $10! so far they refuse to walk inside so they tell me they will starve to death if the bowl isn’t right at the door. maybe i’ll move it one inch a day.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I'm not shootin it's the guy across the river he shoots a lot so my animals are used to that noise and they also made it through the fireworks too.

it wasn’t as bad as the past years, thanks God!
but there were only 2 eggs today

 

[Luv Ducks]

upgraded feeding station for the geese… got this old playhouse for $10! so far they refuse to walk inside when the bowl isn’t right at the door. maybe i’ll move it one inch a day. View attachment 3882401View attachment 3882402

I found one a few years back for my Ducks. I could not get it into my car as it was too big. I had my Son take his truck and get it and the next thing I knew, it was at his house for my Grandchildren. I told them if they got rid of it I wanted it back for my ducks. Well it disappeared never to be seen again once they outgrew it. I think he must have sold it or rehomed it. LOL I think they are a great idea. Your Geese are beautiful!!!