Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[Alis girls]

On the way to work passed the duck pond and 3 male mallards were leisurely crossing the road in front of me - slowed down and the car behind was far away enough for me to put on the hazard lightsto warn them. I have been known to swvere round sparrows. We also have Canada geese at another pond who also meander across and stop for a preen - a gentle peep normally gets them to move.

[Jools]

I stopped the traffic a few years ago to let a mother duck and her trail of ducklings cross the road. Unfortunately she took them across a drain at the side of the road and three of them fell through the holes! Everyone else was in too much of a rush to get to where they were going so I found a nice man in a nearby house who helped me remove the cover and fish the ducklings out then find mum and reunite the family. I missed my appointment but they were very nice and didn't charge me when I told them why.

[The Dogmother]

I've done the same; I used to work in the centre of Oxford and every spring, a mother duck used to raise her family in our courtyard - I'd watch out for her yearly migration to the river (across 3 roads ) As soon as she started off I gathered uo some colleagues and we'd make sure that she made it safely. I used to worry about her after I left that job

[poachedegg]

We have a large pond close to us with lots of ducks, swans and other birds and the traffice is forever having to stop to let them cross, it is a lovely sight and perhaps should have their own lollipop lady?!

[The Dogmother]

It's great traffic calming

 

I spent most of my school hols in Norfolk and the village pub there had bunnies and chooks in the garden, the gate was always open, so they'd wander about the high street. Cars would always stop for them.

[pagesguineas]

In York where I live there are many ducks living near the university and one day while driving to the shop I stopped at a red light for some crossroads and the opposite side of the road were also on red. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw 3 ducks crossing on the green pedestrian light - it's like they knew! They waddled across the road, got to the other side then the lights went green and the traffic went. Sometimes you just wish you had a camera!!

[Bramble]

There's a lovely storybook for children in Boston (USA) called "Make Way for Ducklings" about a true story of a Mummy duck walking her babies from one river across the city to another river, I gather it brought Boston to a complete standstill the day it happened, but there is a beautiful "statue" of the duck family in Boston!!

[coco]

I was walking with the dogs last week and spotted a mother duck and about 10 babies crossing the road. I was waving at drivers to get them to slow down, the dogs though they were very interesting though and I had to drag them away.

[Old Speckled Hen]

I have to say that on one occasion I was driving in Runnymede along the river when the car in front came to an emergency stop as there was a mother duck with ducklings crossing the road. Unfortunately there was a motorcyclist directly behind and when the car came to a stop the guy on the bike hit it catapulting the driver over the car. I rushed out to help. The biker amazingly seemed ok....but I called an ambulance anyway. The chap in the car was vomiting with shock. He said he jammed on the anchors refexly. A lesson in always knowing what's behind I suppose but I think I would have braked too.

[Martin B]

Haha!

 

That is a good post about the university. I am currently studying at Aston Uni and we have a man made lake which has loads of geese, swans and ducks upon it. The university is right in the middle of Birmingham city centre and it is always bemusing when the geese and ducks cross the road to head for the bullring!

 

Martin