Waterfowl Pics and Chat!

[JulieNKC]

Some of my flock, here's my mandarin pair. Then my chubby goose's butt and goofy hatchery runner and blue magpie call.


Runner in a bucket. She was impatient for her turn in the pool. The goose was busy hogging it.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

the duck in a bucket. Give the mandarins time they will settle down more and more as you work around them.

 

[JulieNKC]

the duck in a bucket. Give the mandarins time they will settle down more and more as you work around them.

Thanks. They are slowly coming around. I can stand outside the pen, just not move to much or towards them now. I'm hoping once my mealworm farm takes off that those will gain me some ground with them. They aren't impressed by peas like everyone else, or duckweed or even pond snails. Running out of ideas, lol.

 

[squirrelbug]

Celtic, I didn't think about that!

When I do get a new pen for ducks it would be next to the geese, so I could do that I wish we could fence the entire property...we have 3 acres, but right now that's not an option. The geese do spend most of the time "free ranging" out of their pen...as long as someone is out there. We had a dog come through about a month ago and created all kinds of havoc, luckily we were out there and got to the dog before he got a hold of them. Bonnie did manage to fly about 40 feet though

....scared me because I couldn't find her and I thought she went over the one fence that separates us from an Indian Casino! But she landed shortly before doing that.

Julie,
Thank you...I just adore them

Joanne

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick (hopefully) question...I have 4 geese that live in a pen that is 25' x 50' and have a night time "safe house" that is approximately 8' x 16'. They get to free range whenever I am outside, so I can keep an eye on them. When I have to be in the house, etc., they go back to their own yard.

My question is that I would love to get a couple of runner ducks, (I think they are so cool!) but they would have to live with the geese and I was thinking that if I could get a couple of eggs and slip them under Bonnie this spring when she is sitting on her eggs, would the geese accept the duck(s) as one of theirs and live together as a family?

I see pictures of geese and ducks together, but I don't know if they would all get along being penned up overnight, etc. And I would be devastated if something happened to anyone because of being together...

Thanks!

Joanne
Oh, here are my 4 pilgrims..they are checking out the carrot garden box...they thought all the garden boxes were their "green buffets"

all summer long!

Your geese are beautiful,

 

[Marty1876]

SquirrelBug -

My ducks and geese are all locked up togather in a barn at night. Come breeding season, I will seperate into pairs and trios, as nobody is safe then, even other geese. Its not a problem for me. Also, they all free range togather by day, if somebody is home and the dogs are where they'll bark to alert me of trouble. Ironically, my birds were safer free ranging this summer, than they were in a pen inside a pen just a 12 days ago. Go figure.

 

[squirrelbug]

Hi Marty,

I know about your birds, I have been reading the thread since it happened and it makes me so sad. I know how I felt when the dog came through here, even though I don't think he meant to hurt anyone because if he did he would have time too...he just loped around acting like he wanted to play. But that was enough for me!

Thanks for your thoughts on the ducks and geese, but I won't have any area to separate them come Feb (when Clyde turns into a monster!!) so I think I will wait until they can have their own area and house. I would feel like I set them up if the geese hurt them. So hopefully next spring I will be able to do that.

I think this place is the greatest especially when it comes to advice on just about anything

Joanne
aka squirrelbug

 

[Marty1876]

Joanne,

The amount of wisdem contained in these threads is astounding. Thanks for your kind thoughts!

We sometimes had dogs wander through last year that only marked a few spots and passed on through. I've never before had such an attack on my outside birds. At hatching time, we did have some trouble with our own little terrior/shitzoo/beagle mix. She killed 2 goslings, and I'd never have expected that from her, but live and learn.

 

[squirrelbug]

I know Marty! I have come here several times (both chicken side and this forum) and found things that have helped us with our birds! And I also learned how to deal with Clyde when he turned into the monster last year! My husband threatened to get rid of him until I figured it out! He is not Clyde's favorite person, lol.

I recommend this site to anyone who will listen

Joanne

 

[Iain Utah]

I am convinced that neighborhood dogs are geese's worst predator. My african boy was lucky to have had only minor injuries from being attacked, but it sure freaked me out. I cannot even imagine the horror that you went through, Marty. Any updates on charges being filed against dog owners?