The Quack Shack

[Jenbirdee]

It is now June, in July we're merging the adult Khakis and our current generation of Welshies and Appleyards when they turn 3 months old.

We're a bit worried about the small Welshie that's about 2/3 size of a regular one ... One of our Khaki drakes is really a bully.

However -- I've noticed that in the mixed group of Welshies and Appleyards, the small guy tends to walk around with 3 Appleyard bodyguards ) (which are twice his size in length and 3-4 x in total body volume) So it might all turn out well.

Are all the three month olds males? I would not risk putting any Three month old females in with older Drakes - lock up the older drakes or something until the young ones are 4.5 months… I have already got my adult Drake separated from my flock, but gets three or four of his favorite females in his pen with him each day ( just not any of the elderly ones that he harasses and definitely not the young ones that aren’t 4.5 months yet )

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Wow, just wow I haven’t been here in a week or two since I’m so busy with gosling’s and two sets of ducklings.. this is like reading a tragic ducky soap opera… I’m so sorry for all of these losses to predators
Perhaps I lighten the mood with some photos of my newest babies, & ducknagers & goosenagers?View attachment 4142063View attachment 4142064View attachment 4142065View attachment 4142066

I would love to have some ducklings to cuddle with, but that's not going to happen this year unless i get the permission to have a duckling run in my cubicle…
I have four ducks sitting on eggs,Tweedledee is sitting on five, the two dragon-ladies are taking turns on their nest and i have no idea how many eggs are under them, somewhere between 10- and 20 (!) and finally, my little Number 12 got the broody virus too, she is sitting on four eggs and has built a fortress in one of the nest boxes.
So hopefully there will be some duxlings but not cuddly ducklings...

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

Have been so busy working, and kids winter sports have started, feels like no time for my flock

Where are you? We miss you too. You disappeared like miss Lydia but at least we have a way to check on her. I can ask cause I disssappeared for months too. I hope you are ok. I know I'm far far away but let me know if there is anything I can help with.

 

[Supercow]

 

[Supercow]

Are all the three month olds males? I would not risk putting any Three month old females in with older Drakes - lock up the older drakes or something until the young ones are 4.5 months… I have already got my adult Drake separated from my flock, but gets three or four of his favorite females in his pen with him each day ( just not any of the elderly ones that he harasses and definitely not the young ones that aren’t 4.5 months yet )

My only real experience so far was when we merged the previous young group at 3 months, there was 1 young drake vs. 1 adult one, 6 young hens vs. 9 adult ones. Separate houses but common daily grazing area. There were no problems whatsoever.

Right now we have 2 adult drakes, 10 hens; and in the young group, 5 drakes, 3 hens (with some luck we'll get that down to 3+3). Hopefully by the time July rolls in we'll also already be out of sex offender glory days.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

@WannaBeHillBilly
You ain't no match for a trash panda with a kitchen knife buddy. What were you thinking!!! Omg I hope that bite isn't severe.

I have been hatching calls lately and wanted to brood them in the big stock tank over in the school building this year... but now I'm afraid to put them over there. Been finding too many black snakes this year in there. Saw another one just as big yesterday but I couldn't get it.
I didn't have my kitchen knife handy

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Holy Toledo! Sittin here watchin the ducks play in the yard when I see them all gravitate to the corner of the fence and start quacking.. they are looking at something. Figure it's a turtle, big frog, crawdad or rabbit.
Heck no. A Big Azz trash panda! Just sittin there in the tree line a lookin at them.
Dang it Hillbilly!
Got my .22 but it's broad daylight. There was no sneaking up on it, it disappeared. Dog was inside. Dog can't be let out of the fence anyway he'd run it too far and I'd never catch up.
But why da heckfire were they all over there just asking to be eaten? Stupid dux!!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Guess it's time to dust off the traps.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I

Holy Toledo! Sittin here watchin the ducks play in the yard when I see them all gravitate to the corner of the fence and start quacking.. they are looking at something. Figure it's a turtle, big frog, crawdad or rabbit.
Heck no. A Big Azz trash panda! Just sittin there in the tree line a lookin at them.
Dang it Hillbilly!
Got my .22 but it's broad daylight. There was no sneaking up on it, it disappeared. Dog was inside. Dog can't be let out of the fence anyway he'd run it too far and I'd never catch up.
But why da heckfire were they all over there just asking to be eaten? Stupid dux!!

I don't think ducks can tell the difference between a family's pet or a trash panda until it is too late. That would be my guess. I am just wondering why they are coming out before it is dark! Here they used to only come out in the night unless they were sick but now it seems that they are coming out at all hours of the day and night. I am just surprised by this. So happy all of your ducks remained safe and you saw it at least.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Remi dux goes wherever she wants. Today she wanted to hang out on the bench seat