Lesley Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Bang on time........ Carl found this little one in one of the hens' runs - he popped it back in and we had to put some wood across the door. It can obviously get through the chicken netting. We've made a large cage off the duck house now and will let them out tomorrow if all the others hatch. Jemima left the nest while we were working - to reveal another little duckling.... Five more eggs to go...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 They are so sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 How lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Hurrah what does drakey think of it all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 29, 2009 Author Share Posted July 29, 2009 He's not seen them yet - no access to the duck house. The other three can shelter under it if they need to but they generally all stay outside. The ducks lay in the house.....sometimes...they are fond of laying in the run so that the crows and magpies can fly off with their eggs The drake is not the nicest of fowl and if he starts his murderous antics again this year then he'll probably have to go. We'll have to move him to the spare run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 oh they are so sweet Ducklings are so good looking Hope they all do well I am very tempted with all the duck talk on this forum good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Bang on time........ Carl found this little one in one of the hens' runs - he popped it back in and we had to put some wood across the door. It can obviously get through the chicken netting. We've made a large cage off the duck house now and will let them out tomorrow if all the others hatch. Jemima left the nest while we were working - to reveal another little duckling.... Five more eggs to go...... Did you hatch anymore lovely ducklings..I am getting more tempted to get some more ducks..and now a thread for Bees too(ouch not sure I am that brave..wimp)! indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 No more hatchlings - just the 2 They are out in the enclosed area with Mum and she's stopped sitting on the rest of the eggs - we'll remove them and tidy up the duck house tomorrow. I took more photos today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 No more hatchlings - just the 2 They are out in the enclosed area with Mum and she's stopped sitting on the rest of the eggs - we'll remove them and tidy up the duck house tomorrow. I took more photos today. oh well at least the two have each other (rather than being just a one..if you know what I mean) Still think ducklings are cute,those weekend visits to the park to feed the ducks as a child obviously good cute memories! As well as Donald too! Thanks indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 We were out today from early morning - when we went to tidy the nest Carl found two half hatched ducklings . We thought we'd missed being around to help but closer inspection revealed that the contents were putrid so the littlies must have been 'dead in shell' and the duck has broken the eggs open in some way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 oh dear what a shame but I was always told that domestic ducks dont make good mothers..(I think muscovy ducks do saying that though) & we do have the odd useless mallard that seems to forget they have ducklings with them?? Whats meant to be.... hope the little ones are doing well though What about a broody hen. my neighbour hatched my Aylesburys under her silkie hen? Good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 I think she's just trampled them by accident. This is the second White Campbell to have hatched eggs and they've both been excellent mothers! We were told that the original duck wouldn't sit the whole 28 days but she did - we always have the incubator ready just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Oh no I can just imagine the clumsy mum even the wild mallards stand on theirs by mistake with them pinned to the ground, and then they just walk off as if they hadnt realised! Ducks can be so thick sometimes At least the weather is nice and warm for the newbies indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 I take it all back - she is an extremely bad Mummy - she has trampled one duckling The duck house is raised off the ground and so we made a wide, shallow, ramp covering the whole width of the house so that no duckling legs could be trapped at the edges - it was as safe as it could be.......but now she's trampled one at the end of the run I think we might pop some eggs in the incubator and raise them ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Well the duck thickness gene does exist then..oh what a shame. I think the incubator or broody hen is probably the best idea too..stupid duck Always find them stupid when the male duck chaperones the female whilst she is mother in waitiing & as soon as they are born he disappears Thats when the crows and magpies etc appear and she needs all the help she can get...but no Mr Mallard has vanished So have they all gone now? or is it one left? indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 We have to separate the drake as he always tries to kill any ducklings The duck is pacing up and down the run as she wants to join the drake and other two ducks......that's probably how she trampled the first one - the second is still fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uptang Lee Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Omg i cant wait to get my hands on some ducks even ducklings!! How are the remaining ones? if there still about haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 She squashed the second one as well I'm not letting her sit on eggs again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Oh no what a rubbish mother..ducks do make me despair sometimes...its amazing they are not extinct...sometimes I watch them arguing with each other that the rooks just gobble up all the food and as they have spent all the time squabbling the rooks have taken all the food so none is left..so stupid! They stand on their babies oblivious to it as they argue. Whoever discovered Donald Duck had it summed up so well..poor little ducklings hope you are more successful next time round indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
