thehandthatfeeds Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Hi everyone, I just registered on this site after reading through a few threads and I seem to be in the right place. Just over 3 weeks ago we got 2 Indian runner ducklings. They were 3 weeks when they came to us and they have grown so much over the 3 weeks they have been here. They bring us lots of joy & laughter. Our garden has a pond which they love, we have raised flower beds full of shrubs, trees and flowers and the remainder of the garden is slabbed. We have 1 dog, 3 cats, 2 'free range' rabbits and some fish. They all get on very well, the ducks are still wary of 1 of the cats but she doesn't understand what the fuss is all about. They have settled in a nice routine of being let out of their house about 8.30AM, have some food and a swim and then come into the kitchen to dry/clean and make a mess. I realised very quickly to remove the dog water bowl out of the kitchen once they are indoors. In the evenings we shut them in between 7PM - 8PM and they are quiet immediately. They 'quack' during the day but nothing major (I work from home full time), only when they go over to the pond or for a wander in the flower beds. They are the noisest in the morning when they are ushered out of the kitchen and we then get a huge protest. The quack becomes very high pitched and then they realise they are not coming back in and they go quiet after 30 secs or so. When they spot a plane (very high up in the sky) or any bird flies over, they tilt their little heads, make a high pitched noise to warn each other and go dead still. The worst time was when they saw a helium red balloon fly over. They didn't like that at all. Here are some pictures of our 'little' ducks, named Jemima and Justin. We have no idea of the sex of them so we will wait and see if they get a curly feather in weeks/months to come. So any hints and tips, do's and don'ts, welcome! Day of their arrival One of the cat beds in the kitchen The flowerbed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Welcome to the forum - what lovely photos! Take a look through some of the threads in this section and you'll probably find most questions answered - if you still have any queries then do come back and ask........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehandthatfeeds Posted June 15, 2010 Author Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thank you! I have been looking round and the one question I do have is that they seem to stay in their house most of the time and only wander round the garden, go in the pond etc when there is someone out with them. Is this normal? They seem very contended but was wondering if they need something to encourage them out more without a human present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 They're probably just taking time to settle down and find out where everything is - they'll soon be staying out for longer and chasing you once they realise that you bring their food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Hi i live in fareham and keep indian runner ducks my drake didnt get his curly tail feather until he was gone 1year old you should beable to sex them at about 8 weeks the drakes will sound raspy and the girls will quack when they get older they should stay out more mine hate cats they sound the alarm and i have to go and chase them off whereabouts in fareham are you leanne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehandthatfeeds Posted June 15, 2010 Author Share Posted June 15, 2010 They do follow us everywhere and love sleeping on our feet/legs. They are very cuddly and not scared of people at all, so I have no worries on that front. I just don't want them to feel 'bored' when no-one is in the garden to keep them company. Leanne, I am in Titchfield Common. I am sure Jemima is a girl as she really quacks, Justin I am not too sure about..but time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted June 16, 2010 Share Posted June 16, 2010 Hi, welcome to the forum. I recognise those lovely photos. I'm the (crazy) person who emailed you to ask about your ducks last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehandthatfeeds Posted June 16, 2010 Author Share Posted June 16, 2010 Hi, welcome to the forum. I recognise those lovely photos. I'm the (crazy) person who emailed you to ask about your ducks last week. Well it is thanks to you, (crazy) person I found this lovely forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Oh my word. How cute are they. Great piccis. And lovely hearing about them too. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Welcome to the forum Very cute! I hatched a duckling last week - they're so much cuter than chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Well it is thanks to you, (crazy) person I found this lovely forum Yay, that's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
