Caroline Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi all - I've not been in for ages... baby and all that, busy girl! Look at all the ducky questions!!!! anyway.... here's the thing. My lovely female runner is sitting on TEN eggs! What a good girl. She was MIA for a couple of days so I went looking for her and she was in the duck house all cosied up on the ten duck eggs and lord knows how many from the chicken! (I've taken the chicken ones away as that's a bit pointless - no rooster) so. I've got a drake as well. Is he likely to kill the ducklings? I mean I know they CAN but is it like most of the time or sometimes or once in a while?? Any ideas? Not sure what I'm going to do if he's likely to kill them - he lives in teh same duck house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 So pleased for you Caroline. . I hope all goes well. Runners are so delightful. Miss mine like crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 I have my fingers crossed. Just read your post about your ducks, I'm so sorry. Hope the ducklings are doing well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Percy is amazing, Blach fab, worried about Norris. Hope your brood hatch well.Take care, Moyna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Ps just seen your dog, What breed?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Hi again Caroline - unfortunately, yes, you may have trouble with the drake trying to kill the ducklings We had to separate the drake until the ducklings were a couple of weeks old and could run away from the drake. It's a horrible time.... the drake doesn't like it.... the duck doesn't like it...... They quack for each other all the time...... We tried putting them back together in the hope that he'd learned a lesson but he was soon throwing the babies around by their wings and holding them down in the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 14, 2008 Author Share Posted July 14, 2008 oh nooooooooo!! I couldn't have that!! Maybe he'll have to live with the chicken for a couple of weeks until they're strong enough not to worry about it. She's in an eglu but we put straw in it so he'd be able to walk in etc. Don't think he's even ever been in there! The dog (Bailey) is a labrador Monya, he's a traditional shape so he's big and butch. We've got another one too who is less butch and more yellow. they both like following the ducks and chicken around but do get a little foxy occasionally if there is too much flapping - it's like you can see nature taking over!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 I love big butch labs. How did you train them not to chase birds?. My Vizsla is really well trained, but his instinct takes over once he sees a bird. The only ones he will not chase are big black crows, ravens and rooks. They all now attack him as we walk into our local park, he has taken so many of their young. Buddy dog runs scared A thought here, perhaps I should have black runners?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 15, 2008 Author Share Posted July 15, 2008 One of the dogs, the black one, had no interest in chasing at all, he was curious but that was it when we first got the chickens. He would stand in the run and the chickens just walked under him not scared at all. The yellow one was a bit more 'foxy' and looked like he wanted to eat them! I was quite worried for a while. Then one day, we let the chickens out of the run and he just lost interest completely!! They haven't bothered about them since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Oh gosh wish my Viz would ignore my ducks.He is fab and gentle with kittens and small grandkiddies, just hates birds.Lost 4 adult ducks to him and he has started to point towards the brooder .I have tried every training technique, but once a bird runs away from him it becomes game. He once jumped about 5/6 foot in the air and took a magpie out !. Amazing to see but I wish he would just listen to me where my ducks are concerned, he goes totally deaf. I know it is nature etc, but I believe a dog should do what its master commands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 23, 2008 Author Share Posted July 23, 2008 have you tried one of those collars that squirt air up their noses?? We have one and used it for a little while with Jasper. It stops him in his tracks. If the air doesn't work, you can use citronella and failing that mustard!! They are BLOODY expensive but did the trick for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Tried one of those collars with one of my bearded collies to stop him barking. After a day with it on he used to bark and flinch the same time, he liked citronella, LOL still carried on barking driving us mad . I was refilling the spray about 4 times a day in the end. Taken my viz in to meet the ducklings, he knows, I hope, not to go near them now and today I was pleased that he ignored them although he watched me and was tense all the time. I watch him with our young marmalade cat, he just launches himself at him, cat is clever enough to defend himself, no malice on dogs side. They have a rough and tumble chew each other a bit and then they both curl up together for a nap!. Cat is the boss. I adore my viz, he is a good boy at heart, just a real birder. Loved my ducks as well, really looking forward to having them back in the garden. Percy and Blanch are delightful, each have their own personality, Perc is a wuss despite his size, Blanche spends most of the day preening!. Must have named them right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 our collar worked brilliantly for one of the dogs but the black on in my profile pic just sneezed then got on with whatever he was doing! Makes sense that a Vizsla would go after birds, it's in the breeding I guess. Nearly every picture you see of a viz working, they've got a bird in their mouths!! Hope he keeps himself in check. p.s. no ducklings yet : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Adored my beardies, they were the best dogs in the world until I got my Viz. Bud is a fantastic dog, cannot fault him, although I had my doubts about him when he was a pup. He put me in hospital 3 times the first year, none of it his fault, just sheer exuberance. Took him for a really long walk tonight and was complimented 3 times, so proud, a mum with a puschair, a chav and a young lady with a really friendly cross. I was so proud of him cos he listens to me, until he sees a bird. I can just make a clicking noise with my tongue and he stops what he is doing and comes to my side. Unless there is a bird in sight. . Good luck with your hatch Caroline, hope all goes well. Take care, Moyna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 25, 2008 Author Share Posted July 25, 2008 I think sometimes there is just too much 'nature' in them for them to fight it. Our yellow lab gets a bit 'foxy' now and then he just goes. Eventually he will respond but it's like your voice breaks through suddenly and he stops and looks all embarassed (if a dog can) as if to say 'oops, couldn't help myself!'. ANYWAY..... DUCKLINGS!!!!! there are two so far I think. Don't want to disturb mummy duck too much but I'm pretty sure there are two. I'm going to give her another couple of days to see if any more hatch but if not, that's ok too. photos as soon as they're out and about!! YAY!! still not sure whether to separate them from the drake and / or mum. I've got a run for them but I don't think it will be tall enough for mum......... decisions decisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Runners are so tall, I cannot believe how high 2 week old runner ducklings are, Percy is at least a foot and Blanch 9 inches. Their hutch came today, so glad they have got all the extra room, although my breakfast room is out of bounds at the moment for us to eat in. It will be easier for me to clean them out as well. Gosh they get so dirty. Marmalade cat, Garf, dgds named him, has taken to sitting in kitchen eyes transfixed through door on hutch and ducklings. He is a absolutally useless birder, we watched him last week go past patio doors, proud as punch with bird in mouth, 30 seconds later we saw bird fly past the other way with cat chasing!. Bird got away safe and sound!. He used to lurk in duck pen with adult ducks, just swishing his tail, too much of a wuss to go near them. My viz just shakes and gets tense when we go into ducklings room, I saw him pointing at the door today. Not allowed. Mind you I have spent 15 minutes watching him point and creep up on a carrier bag . He has had 1 squirrel, about 10 birds and countless leaves, carrier bags, hydranger heads, twigs, mcdonald bags. empty cans of lager etc this year. He is such a fab dog, it upsets me that he cannot leave a bird alone, despite his training. Perhaps I should have stuck to Beardies, as special as vizslas are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 26, 2008 Author Share Posted July 26, 2008 Bless him. he JUST can't help it!! Two ducklings arrived safe and sound and are looking good. No photos yet as they are still hiding under mum. She has let me have a look and let me pick them up although she wasn't thrilled! There should have been at least one more but it pecked round the perimeter but died before it could get out. Such a shame, it was a really dark one which would have been lovely. Pete saw it and tried to help but it was already dead. There are 7 more eggs but I really don't think they will come to anything now. At least we have two.... fingers crossed for DUCKS this time - last time 2 hatched and were both drakes!! That would have meant one duck to two drakes which can NEVER be good!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 So very pleased for you Caroline , hope they do well, and they are ducks. My 2 love their rabbit hutch, so much room for them, less mucking out for me You are so lucky to have a 'Mum' to bring them up. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 , dogs can look embarrased!. Bud will make a candle shape out of a duvet, pillow, rug etc, and suck it like a dummy, pounding with his front paws!. Until we caught him in action we were puzzled why we had these soggy sticky up patches all over the house. If he sees us watching him its like 'Nothing to see here, not me'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 FINALLY! Some photos..... I hope I didn't separate them from the drake, he picks on them a little bit but mum sorts it out. Hopefully she'll protect her babies until they're big enough to do it themselves!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 They're lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Caroline they are georgeous. You must be chuffed. I put my 2 out in the garden on their own on Friday, they are way too big for the house. They cried for ages, they both imprinted on us, but it had to be done. They are in a secure run,and safe but it is so upsetting. I wish they had a duck to help them. Lol, let them both into the bigger pen for a run yesterday, Blanche ran between my legs, straight into the duck pond and loved every minute, ducking under the water and splashing, poor Percy followed her and was not quite sure what to make of it. Must be a bloke, such a wuss. He is getting very handsome tho.,feathers are coming in, blue black chest with yellow throat. He still has very fluffy grey baggy trousers. Cannot wait to see what coloring they get. Vizsla has been extraordinary well behaved and is turning his head away when he sees them. A good sign I hope. . Take care, Moyna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 d*mn d*mn d*mn!! TWO drakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last year she hatched two eggs, two drakes (one died). THIS year she hatched two eggs, TWO DRAKES!!!! DAGNAMMIT!! They are beautiful I might add. So far, both have a sort of mocha coloured head. I'll try to get some pics up. Three drakes to one duck though, THAT's going to be trouble! OH says it'll be fine but I'm looking at this from the woman's point of view!!! He has no idea!! need more ducks...... can't bring myself to get rid of the drakes!! Hope your ducklings are big and tall and strong and beautiful by now Moyna?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusky123 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Lost all but one of my hatchlings , a fox got in when I was away, Blanche was the only survivor.) She was on her own for a few days and so distressed. When I got off holiday she just ran to me and Honked so loudly.DS tried to stop me going down to the pen when I drove up, Bless him. Bought Blanche a new mate, Ghengis Khan, He looks the same as Blanche except for his bright green crest. She dragged him around the garden by his crest for the first few days , bought in 2 new ducks as well, Pearl, a georgeus white runner and Bess a feisty little black runner. Went to put them to bed tonight, put some extra straw in their house, called them and they all came off their pond walked over my hands and went to bed . They all nibbled my hands on the way to bed :Well Chuffed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Oh, that's some good news Rusky! - they sound lovely Any photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
