YAY! My males are getting a nice new home!

[desertdarlene]

He was only about two weeks old when he "disappeared", so I don't think he knew about girlfriends, yet.

At our lake, there's a pattern. Usually, you see them for the first five to 10 days, perhaps a few days more. Then, most of the time, they will disappear and show up again when they're five to six weeks old, usually on their own without mom. Most will attach themselves to other young ducks and form a little creche. Our weather is always mild, the adults don't attack or hurt the young ducks, and the ducklings are very predator savvy even at that young age, so they're fine on their own and do well in their little groups. Ducky was "lost" until he was about seven weeks old when he attached himself to the slightly older brother-sister group. The "better" mamas will still keep an eye on their young ones, though, even after they "leave" mom and join their teenage friends.

 

[happyhens44]

Wow the ducks around you seem nice

 

[desertdarlene]

Until last November, there was a lot of food flowing around the lake because of people feeding them. So, there was very little competition and no one went hungry who didn't mind getting fed by people. But, two major feeders are no longer there, though they might be back later this year. It will be interesting how things go this summer without regular feedings.

 

[happyhens44]

Huh. The only ducks I think we have around here are wild mallards. unless you have pets from a feed store or something...But im not really sure

 

[desertdarlene]

We have wild mallards at the lake, too, and in the winter, we get many species of ducks such as gadwalls, buffleheads, redheads, scaup, etc. But, we also have some domestic ducks that people drop off and leave behind. Geese, too. So, we have a few pekins, runners, rouens and swedish ducks, too.