The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) ... we have an orphaned fawn at work Well, not strictly 'orphaned'; it got itself stuck in the deer fencing, luckily the gamekeeper found it before the foxes did. He freed it and waited for mum to claim it, but none of the does showed any interest. After a while it was clear that none of them wanted it, so the wee s"Ooops, word censored!" is in one of the stables and is being hand-reared. As soon as it's getting onto the bottle and less scared, I will be allowed in to see and feed it, so photos will follow. I also have 8 duck eggs in an incubator beside my desk (it's like a maternity unit here!) they are due to hatch in the next couple of days, but we're not sure if they are viable or not. The gamekeeper candled them late and thought he saw an embryo inside, so perhaps we'll get some ducklings. Will update when I have more news. Edited July 23, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 How lovely, it sounds like you must have a dream job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 It does indeed sound like a dream job - very envious indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 Thanks, it does have its downsides in the cold weather though; my office is arctic at the best of times and there's always plenty of mud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Poor wee mite . Looking forward to cute photos though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) Lesley said to me 'how could none of them want it?' Deer are like ducks; fickle mothers I am hoping to be 'Duckmother' soon if the eggs are viable Was talking to the stockman today and he was moaning about his chooks having diarrhoeia, so I gave him a free course and suggested moving their pen along the paddock, sprinkling santising powder and worming them, although he's pretty regular with the latter. The unwanted cockerel we had in our neighbourhood at home was re-homed here and the wee fella has a harem of big wives... we call him Rod, after Rod Stewart who also likes big birds Edited July 16, 2013 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 16, 2013 Author Share Posted July 16, 2013 Well, the duck eggs we thought might be duds appear to be pipping.. I heard some cheeping beside me earlier and two of the eggs are clearly pipping, two further eggs are tapping back when I hold them to my ear and tap with my finger nail (I do this when we have a broody on eggs at home). I hope to have at least two fluffy wee ducklings tomorrow - what a shame I have lots of work to do I was going to be foster mum to the fawn tomorrow as the gamekeeper had to go out for the day, I had the timer all set to remind me of the four-hourly feeds and now his trip has been cancelled I'll have to see if I can feed it at least once tomorrow and get some photos to post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 I have one Khaki Campbell duckling this morning, another one on the way out and 3 more eggs tapping back at me. I'll have the brooder in here until they make too much noise/mess, then they'll go out in a bigger brooder. I may just take some duck eggs home to put under my broody next week. Fawn still going well, photos later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 What a little cutie! Does the little duckling think you're mum now you've picked him up? I may just take some duck eggs home to put under my broody next week. Well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 I hope not! Fingers crossed that he will have a friend in the next couple of hours. I've dipped his beak in a water tray and he has brightened up. I shan't keep any I hatch at home as I don't have the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 And then there were two... I'm not happy with the way the new duckling is moving (or not) though, it looks deformed. Will let it dry out and investigate later... it's noisy enough though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Hope it makes it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 Sadly it didn't make it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Ah sorry to hear that. Hope the little duckling has a friend or two soon, when we had Tumble on his own we found him really noisy everytime we were out of sight, once the other chicks hatched he was much happier and quieter. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 18, 2013 Author Share Posted July 18, 2013 Another one hatched last night - similar problems as the one who didn't last yesterday. It's still damp, so I'll let it dry out and see how it looks but I suspect that one of the ducks has been laying sub-standard eggs It happens sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 I walked with some friends last night and finished up in a pub in the next village. In the pub garden was a run with baby ducklings - Mum had been run over on the road in the village yesterday so the babies had been orphaned Poor little things looked very confused without Mum. The pub does tend to operate as a bit of a duck sanctuary - last year they had a few pens with orphaned ducklings in. The keep them penned with food and water until they're old enough to go onto the stream that runs through the pub garden, then keep an eye on them and feed them until they head off to the big wide world by themselves. They also put big notices outside the pub asking people not to speed through to village and squash the ducks, but every year there are casualties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 LB I know the pub you mean, I have stopped in the past for ducks and ducklings crossing. DM sorry to hear about the other duckling, I hope it will be ok. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 19, 2013 Author Share Posted July 19, 2013 The wee monsters hatched in my office are doing well, we gave the yellow one 24 hours and he rallied when I really thought he wouldn't. His legs are a bit splayed but I'll hobble him with some Micropore today to see if I can coax them back into line. They're out in the brooder now, and we'll discard the other eggs that weren't valid. I shall miss the noisy little monkeys! Fawn is still very shy, so not allowed visitors (they can take fright and die easily) I will take photos as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 At last I've managed to get photos of the fawn; she is a Sika female, so very dainty and quite valuable to the herd as a breeding doe when she grows up. She is still living in the gamekeeper's kitchen, but went into the workshop for her feed and then a quick run around on the lawn outside my office. These last two were taken out of the Landy window (so not very clear as I was driving) yesterday as I drove down the drive; the deer are gathering under the trees for shade, or swimming in the lakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 What an idyllic place to work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 What a lovely sweet thing, and now I am doubly jealous of where you work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 She's beautiful!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I love the ducklings and the fawn. They are all beautiful. Are there any job vacancies where you work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 not at the moment... and it's very cold in the winter The ducklings are coming home with me for a week in August when I am on leave (at home) as the gamekeeper is also off that week and no-one else will look after them. I'll rig them up a home in the spare eglu so they can have some grass and water to paddle in. Rosie will be delighted when I tell her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
