jayjay Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 Daff and Billie have been getting along great, loving their pond and having FR in the garden and burn etc. Recently Bill has been sitting on a wee nest every night containing the 2 eggs although as soon as I go in to let them out in the morning she is off - so not thinking she is broody. Lately, however, she has become quite stroppy. When I try to herd her or when putting out food etc she is really quacky, not in a quack quack kind of way but in a "get out of my face" kind of way !!! It's quite amusing but is it normal? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted May 19, 2010 Share Posted May 19, 2010 i have same sort of problem Daisy now had 14 eggs in her nest turns them every night but come morning is jumping at the door to get out and is only interested in the pond garden and making lots of noise donald is the protective one flys at me if i go near the shed but still likes a fuss how old are your ducks i have decided that maybe mine are still a bit young at 11 mths maybe next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted May 20, 2010 Author Share Posted May 20, 2010 Hi maryann, thanks for the reply My 2 are both girlies so not looking for any wee ducks and glad that Billie is not broody but she is just bad tempered of late. She wasn't like this until recently. Now she is noisy and quacks at me although she is not aggresive. Any ideas? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 wish i did Daisy is the same gives me constant grief even after i give her food she is still trying to tell me off between mouthfuls think she loves me realy lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs bun Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Hi, Our lady duck, Elsie, is being exactly the same at them moment. She will not stop quacking in a narky, stroppy kinda way! She's quite happy to leave the duck house every morning and subsequently her egg and doesn't seem to be bothered about me taking her eggs away. However, she will not shut up. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to what's causing this? Aside from it being rather noisy we're worried that something might be wrong. Other than the incessant racket she's perfectly healthy, eating & drinking plenty and going in the pond as normal. Any ideas/help would be greatly appreciated Many thanks, Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted May 29, 2010 Author Share Posted May 29, 2010 Hi Sarah My pair of females are driving me bonkers at the moment - they are not happy when anyone goes near them and they are usually very friendly. They scoot off in the morning without as much as a by your leave and fluff feathers into battle position if I try to be nice to tehm. Have even been pushed to threatening the orange sauce and giving all the neighbours half a dozen eggs!! I am now convinced they are just hormonal. Broody without wanting the responsibility of eggs They are eating fine and look healthy. A local duck keeper said that they could be narky for up to a month JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Daisy has been the same then 2 days ago found her sitting on a clutch of eggs and apart from coming out for food water and to hiss at me she stays on her nest, sounds very much like your ducks have hormone issues dont woory im sure it will pass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Hi Sarah My pair of females are driving me bonkers at the moment - they are not happy when anyone goes near them and they are usually very friendly. They scoot off in the morning without as much as a by your leave and fluff feathers into battle position if I try to be nice to tehm. Have even been pushed to threatening the orange sauce and giving all the neighbours half a dozen eggs!! I am now convinced they are just hormonal. Broody without wanting the responsibility of eggs They are eating fine and look healthy. A local duck keeper said that they could be narky for up to a month JJ Hi JJ - I've been watching the thread without having much to contribute. I think you have hit the nail on the head, with the hormonal. Ours are also being a bit stroppy and I have been reviewing my duck recipes too Added to the general stroppiness my mad MIL (I'm quite safe she doesn't have a pc) presented us with 5 campbell ducklings 2 months ago. They are now teenagers - and well, all together they make 20 chickens seem like a stroll in the park Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 If my MIL gave me 5 more ducks she would be the one marinaded in orange sauce!! I can't believe I have found myself facing up to Billie taking an aggresive stance and telling her to back off - surely having ducks = madness! But as we continue to say - ducks make you smile, laugh, cry, .... Nice to know we are all going through the same. How's your sick duck - did I see that on another thread? JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 If my MIL gave me 5 more ducks she would be the one marinaded in orange sauce!! Funny, but there I always imagine that recipe, you know with the pig done over the spit with an apple shoved in its gob How's your sick duck - did I see that on another thread? JJ Ah yes poor Maisey. Well now, a trip to the vet and €30 poorer - she has Bumblefoot poor little thing, so she's on anti Bi's for 10 days and her eggs discarded . That wouldn't be so bad except the drake is just totally infatuated with her. Poor Quacks doesn't get a look in and the teenagers are far too quick for him in the long grass. Added to which the teenagers (who we have collectively christened "The Scousers" - no offence intended to anyone reading - just find myself saying "Calm Down, Calm Down") have clocked that Maisey is weak and have now started picking on her. Still nothing a shake of the broom won't cure I think it's just a mad time of year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted June 2, 2010 Author Share Posted June 2, 2010 What is it they say - Spring is in the air! Poor Maisie - hope she recovers soon and can get a grip of those scousers - I thought my place was mad with 2 ducks - goodness knows how you cope - are you partial to a wee dram?? I find it very soothing to have a glass in my hand........now where did I put the spit JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Poor Maisie - hope she recovers soon and can get a grip of those scousers She's doing great now the anti Bi's have kicked in. Mind you giving her a tablet twice a day does have its moments I thought my place was mad with 2 ducks - goodness knows how you cope Probably no madder. They tend to go around in little gangs. The chickens split up into about 3 groups, some go up to the barns and workshop (they love sawdust), some patrol up and down the boreen, and the rest peck at a patch that I ploughed up for them - keeps them off the veggies . The ducks split along age lines with a group at the feeder or pools and another group in the stream. How do we cope - probably badly - there is always something to do, but we get round to it eventually.. are you partial to a wee dram?? I find it very soothing to have a glass in my hand.....JJ you bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 She's doing great now the anti Bi's have kicked in. Glad to hear it - hope my pair never get ill I just can't imagine how I'd get the stroppy mares to take a tablet Would be here all day attempting that one. Now the questions is patrol up and down the boreen What in the name of the wee man is a boreen? I know you are foreign (across the water and all) but never heard of it. Thinking burn, small stream, then started having funny thoughts about ducks with uniforms patrolling the border of your garden... Lovely day up here today so have had a wee wine or two. Ducks sleeping sweetly on the grass. Bliss JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted June 5, 2010 Share Posted June 5, 2010 (edited) What in the name of the wee man is a boreen? I know you are foreign (across the water and all) but never heard of it. Boreen its from the gaelic (wouldn't ya know) is a casual kind of road. DW's grandfather made it with little more than stones and horsepower about 70+ years ago. It's about 300 yds long and runs from the main road, past the house and up to the barns. I hope that is a bit clear - I feel the more detail I add the more complicated it sounds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreen Yes its quite pleasant here and we're having a few glasses too - though Maisey still has to have her dose later - should be fun Edited July 3, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Should have put these as a new post rather than amending an old post: Update Weds 9/6 just been back to the vet with Maisey. She's doing great but he lanced the absess on her foot. Now she needs to be kept on clean straw for five days Update 2 Thurs 1/7 Poor old Maisey is still limping along. Back to the vets on Monday. Apparently there's a possibility of a foreign object (small piece of metal perhaps) inside her foot. Which means a small op to get it out - but he wants to try long term anti bi's before putting her through that trauma. So anti bi's for a month. Anyone any tips for giving a duck a pill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Hi never tried it on a duck but if my chickens get antibiotics in tablet form i stick it in a bit of sweetcorn out the tin they swallow it straight down i prefer to get liquid form ab and just syringe straight down the throat good luck leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Leanne thanks that liquid in a syringe sounds a lot easier. I'll have a chat with the Vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Its called baytril just in case you wanted to tell the vet leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 What a long saga you've had! - I hope the ant-bs sort it out. Agree that liquid is easier than tablets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs bun Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Sorry for the delay getting back to you... Thanks so much for your replies You were quite right, I think she was just having a hormonal week (or two!). She's back to pecking my toes in the morning when she's let out and will happily be stroked whilst eating her treat of mealworms. Thanks again, Sarah x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
