Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

Today I took in 4 ducks (3 drakes and 1 female) They are mallards hatched this year(from an abadoned wild nest) but have been raised with chickens. They apparently started to attack the chickens and cockerel. Dug holes in the chicken run and been very needy!

 

Decided and hoping they will go off to mallard world in my back garden.

 

So we put them on the pond this afternoon and the other wild mallards have come to have a look. Its really sad as they keep waiting at the same spot we pushed them in(steep bank) but they have been diving down (more than the wild ones do). Probably to get my 14 goldfish I just put in

 

They havent had a fly yet but as they have lived in captivity they are very fat mallards.

 

I am sure they will spend tonight on the pond there is plenty of undergrowth and a tree stump for them to sit on .

 

indie

 

[Sara-W]

What lovely pics Its like duck heaven -such lovely surroundings, my ducks would be jealous!

[Guest]

Duck heaven but my dogs nightmare as he gets shut in when the ducklings are around..dog hell ! OH goes mad at me..it costs me in layers pellets..the chickens are no trouble.

 

Since having the newbies we are back to them hammering on the patio doors early in the morning.(the wild ones do that only in the spring)

 

As someone else has said they are so cheeky ducks but very cute!

 

I did wonder where they all go in the winter as they disappear but I spoke to the RSPB & they said they probably gather together somewhere in a big flock/colony?? We didnt know if they went further south(we are Herts) so I was suprised, as we are quite southerly. The wild ones willl go about October. I never knew where?

 

But in the spring we know they are back! Its terrible! Complete havoc when I walk out the back they practically fly into you(its mating season)!Its like we dont exist.

 

Anyhow very amusing cute birds..I have a horrible feeling the newbies will end up with a duck house..hoping they will lose weight and go wild

 

thanks indie