4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Mayo]

Three weeks ago, I fostered several day-old (possibly muscovy) ducklings from a rescue centre. Only one has made it; but he/she seems happy and healthy.

This would seem a sensible size for a large duck ; at least until I get a new garden with large pond early next year.

 

http://www.transtools.co.uk/store/prod_8480/plastering-tools/plastering-baths/shieldtone-deep-plastering-and-mortar-mixing-bath-130-litres.html

 

Any thoughts ??

 

Mayo.

[Lesley]

That will be fine for one duck - I've used one before to make a pond.....before we had ducks.

[bessandra]

Looks perfect,I would have thought?lesley and indie are the perfect ones to confirm

[Lesley]

I thought about this a bit more.....you will need a way of emptying it - even one duck will be quite messy.....and they wait until their backsides hit the water

 

If it is only going to be temporary you may be better with the plastic shell from Tesco which has been mentioned recently? If you can dig a sump and fill it with gravel and then sit the pond on top it will make it easier to empty each day.

[Guest]

Hi

 

I did read this thread yesterday, the container you suggest may be as Lesley is saying difficult to empty out..may need a pump which is extra cost etc etc

 

I used an old 5 inch deep x 2foot wide jam making pan when mine were really small. As has been said on previous threads the important thing for ducks is being able to put their heads in water. If they can sit on water that is great too but not essential.

 

Without stating the obvious ducks love water but if you are going to have lots of water its just a bigger area for them to pollute and in the colder weather a nightmare if you dont have room in the back garden etc to tip it away.

 

Tesco def had the shells this week stacked up..try a superstore thats where Ihave seen them bargain!

 

Good luck hope it goes well, ducks are really so nice to watch

 

indie

[Mayo]

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for all your constructive advice.

I did, in fact, act on Lesley's first piece of advice and ordered one at 20.00hrs yesterday - had a confirmatory e-mail this morning saying it will be delivered on Monday !!

I have found a sump pump that we used to use in the cellar, which still works, so at least I can get most of the weight out of the pond before lifting and twisting.

Zoomer / Zoomie (depending on ultimate discovery of his/her s-x) will be in a small-ish courtyard behind the house, with direct access to my study: at least when/if he's happy about being outside. It's 100% secure and has good drainage to take the tip-out. At the moment he's content to stick with the parrot impersonations and has to be dragged, screaming and shouting, off my shoulder to bathe or eat !! But already he's sussed the cat-flap - took about an hour: if I remember rightly, it took the cat about ten months . . , . !!

I'm so proud of him: he was so feeble, as were all his siblings. All the ones that weren't dead in their shells were helped out. (I wouldn't have, but the RSPCA didn't take my advice about that, and it had happened before I got there). But he's a real little fighter - the only one of nine to survive longer than four days - and a Total Sweetie.

 

Many years ago, I had a house duck who hatched in my hand when I was eight and who survived beyond my twenty-first birthday; and, more recently, a badly injured adult muscovey who still managed to live another year and was an astonishing character.

 

Am off to my Norfolk home tomorrow to await the pond, and I don't have internet access there, so no posts.

When I get back to Surrey I'll apply myself to learning how to post pics; and maybe even start a blog.

 

Thanks again to you all.

Max.

 

Happy Birthday Zoom--- 22 today.

Edited August 1, 2009 by Guest

[Lesley]

All those duck rescues! - he/she is certainly in good hands.

 

Don't you find it difficult living in two places? - will you be settling in one? (sorry - just being nosey)

[Mayo]

Hi Lesley,

 

Jeeez. Have I had problems living in two places : for Decades. G-d knows why it's such a problem.

I bought a log cabin in Surrey while (for fifteeen years) I lectured in London.

I've always maintained a small home in Norfolk. (My Mother lived in Norfolk and it was convenient to keep a house there to stay when I visited her).

Work in London has ceased, because of my illness, and Mother is no more; so now i'm looking for a tiny house with a Huge garden and a river running through the garden !!

OR

I'll sleep in the shed, and the hens and duck can share the rest !!

 

Thanks a mill for your words of wisdom - so reasurring to hear from a definitive source.

 

Max.

 

By the way : do you have any ideas for a training treat ??

I have tried grapes (which worked Instantaneously with the chucks), tomatoes (various), cucumber, lettuce (several varieties), watercress. dandelions, chickweed.

Doesn't appear to be interested in anything other than Growers Pellets.

[Lesley]

I'm not an expert.......you'd do as well looking on the Practical Poultry forum as well......

 

Two houses sound like hard work - I hope you soon find your little house with a stream......

[Redwing]

I've been looking at these as sheep water troughs but strangely from the same seller the same thing sold as a 'horse trough' is £10 more so thanks for this!

 

Good luck finding the dream house, that sounds wonderful

[Mayo]

From Lesley :

"even one duck will be quite messy.....and they wait until their backsides hit the water"

 

 

Ohhh Lesley . . . If Only Zoom would. Your training techniques must be a whole lot different from mine !!!

 

You should have seen the floor of my en-suite first thing this morning; and that was after he'd managed to escape over a tall doorway barrier into my bedroom in the middle of the night, so my duvet wasn't any too fragrant either.

Still, he seemed contented enough when I woke at dawn to find him fast asleep on my pillow with his beak shoved into the back of my neck.

Don't kids grow up quickly . . .

 

Cheers.

 

Max.

 

AND . . . how come the output is At Least fifty times the volume of the input . . . Gotta be some new law of physics there : if not one of chemistry as well.

[Mayo]

Hey Guys.

 

Whaddya think of this for a duck lvr / chuck lvr place to retire.

 

Maybe a tired old rescue dawg as well.

 

 

http://www.abbotts.co.uk/content/006_Results/002_Property/property-sales-abnrps-ELY080232-1243362655

 

 

 

????????

 

 

Max.

[Guest]

Hey Guys.

 

Whaddya think of this for a duck lvr / chuck lvr place to retire.

 

Maybe a tired old rescue dawg as well.

 

 

http://www.abbotts.co.uk/content/006_Results/002_Property/property-sales-abnrps-ELY080232-1243362655

 

 

 

????????

 

 

Max.

 

 

I think the duck and dawg will be really happy... where are you going to go then?

 

Sounds like they have taken over

indie

[Lesley]

Looks wonderful - and only 1 bedroom so no having to have people to stay

 

Check out www.ruralscene.co.uk - they handled the sale of our smallholding.

[bessandra]

Hi max

ref.the training treats,I did all my early bribing,sorry,training,with spaghetti-cheapest brand from supermarket.we have now progressed to sweetcorn(absolute fave),peas,other pasta shapes and more recently,live and dried mealworms..that has been such a hoot to watch

[Mayo]

.

Hi guys,

 

Thanks so much for all the advice. Will try it all.

 

Off to Norfolk to do a bit more packing. Back in a couple of weeks. (Unless I grit my teeth and fork out for a mobile broadband dongle, in which case I'll actually have contact with the real world from Norfolk; maybe even, within a couple of days).

 

Max.

[Guest]

oh have a great time how did we manage without mobiles etc

 

Am planning on visiting Norfolk in couple of weeks have never been to Sandringham(is that where you live )? Perhaps our Queen will put the kettle on for us!

 

Have a great time hope the weather improves too

 

indie