winter quarters

We've rejigged and moved the pen so that it's better suited for Tom to go through the winter. It's near the house, so more sheltered from the wind, and he can now hear the TV and voices.

Though he sometimes likes to watch as well as listen -

(The dog is not real - it's a statue of Nipper, the HMV dog.)

We have waited a while to see if Tom would fly or try to go away to the other ducks, but he didn't. So we decided to feed him up for Christmas (just joking!). No. We decided to keep him through the winter and try to build him up ready for the spring. Then we could try him with the others, his brothers and sisters who are still on a nearby pond, and see how it goes.

Meanwhile, he's getting plenty of TLC -

And trampoline practice -

And, since he won't bathe himself, a bath -

now only Tom

Day 68. Wednesday 8th September 2010

This morning, we walked Violet, Jake and Evan round to the pond where Petal and Rosemary were. They all met up and made friendly noises. We left them and they were still all together when we checked an hour or so later.

Tom doesn't seem too bothered about being on his own. He still spends his time doing his own thing - foraging in the grass, preening and, unfortunately, still wandering into open spaces where he is in danger from predators.

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That was when he was first on his own. He was enjoying the luxury of doing whatever he pleased, without being pecked and moved off.

But afterwards, he spent a lot of time searching and looking in all the places they'd all been before: in the pools, in the bedroom bins, round the yard and in the garden.

He was not keen to stay in the pen, where previously he'd been content to be in there. I shut him in the pens for a while, but he wandered around, mainly by the doorway, looking to get back out.

Tom alone.

then there were four

Day 67. Tuesday 7th September 2010

This afternoon, four of the ducks flew off. Two came back, leaving Petal and Rosemary staying away on a duck pond in a neighbour's garden about 70 yards away.

Violet missed her sisters and was making a strange throaty croaking noise. It appeared, when all the others flew off, that she had purposely stayed behind with Tom, who isn't able to fly.

This is the state of Tom's wing feathers, and the likely reason why he can't fly. He spends a lot of time trying to get those feathers right, but without success.

in the field

Day 66. Monday 6th September 2010

A short video of the ducks out in the field.

A hen pheasant takes advantage of the ducks' absence.

second day out

Day 65. Sunday 5th September 2010

Weather for ducks.

Out for a walk.

freedom

Day 64. Saturday 4th September 2010

Today was the ducks' first day of freedom.

First out, Petal - the smartest.

 The others are eager to join her, but can't find the way out.

Two out.

All out.

The pansies take a bashing.

Shade under the chairs.

The ducks discover the garden pond.

bowl of feathers

Day 62. Thursday 2nd September 2010

See how the wings tuck into the feathers on the duck's underside.

These feathers on the duck's underside act like a bowl when the duck is sitting on the water, and keep the wing feathers dry.

With Tom, he doesn't tuck his wings into this 'bowl' of feathers, so they hang down instead.

what ducks do to a lawn

Day 61. Wednesday 1st September 2010

They turn it to mud. They dig it up with their beaks as they forage for roots.

Evan says hello

Day 60. Tuesday 31st August 2010

Lex is back from holiday.