Day 58. Sunday 29th August 2010
A very short video of Petal flapping her wings:
Here it is again, in slow motion:
29/08/2010
28/08/2010
flight and quack
If you've been following the progress of these ducks, you'll understand why it's a bit sad at the end:
Tom later went into the pool on his own and swam normally - until one of the females joined him (Petal - and she thinks she owns the pool):
But Tom's not totally innocent. I've seen him take a few pecks at unsuspecting passers-by, and happily shove a lady duck into the pool.
27/08/2010
8 weeks
Day 56. Friday 27th August 2010
8 weeks old. Here they all are (waiting for their presents):
8 weeks old. Here they all are (waiting for their presents):
22/08/2010
iridescent colours
Day 51. Sunday 22nd August 2010
This short video is an attempt to catch the iridescent colours in the band on the females' wings. They change from green through blue to purple, but in the flesh the green is greener and the purple more purple than the video shows.
This short video is an attempt to catch the iridescent colours in the band on the females' wings. They change from green through blue to purple, but in the flesh the green is greener and the purple more purple than the video shows.
liquid tonic
Day 50. Saturday 21st August 2010
I found a good forum discussion on droopy wing duck. The general advice seems to be to leave it for the moment, and to give vitamin and mineral supplements in their drinking water.
So, they're now having this - - - >
So, they're now having this - - - >
20/08/2010
more about Tom
Day 49. Friday 20th August 2010
It has rained a lot lately. This doesn't bother the ducks at all: they're outside whether it's raining or not. It makes no difference to them: the water rolls off their backs.
But Tom's feathers get wet. He's small and less-well developed than the others. He does the same things, except for swimming: he's reluctant to get in, except occasionally.
He can often be seen, when the others are bathing, standing on the edge of the pool and dipping his head up and down in the water, with a flick of his head as he comes up. Then he'll spend a lot of time preening, but mainly on his wet chest. You don't see him rub his preen gland then rub his head over his back like the others do.
Because he doesn't bathe himself properly he walks around much of the time with a muddy chest from where he's been rooting in the ground. They all root, but the others wash more. He'll probably need to bathe and preen properly to fly; to knit his feathers together, and have them stay dry.
Here's a short video (with fence!) of the other ducks' behaviour when there's fresh water in the pool:
It has rained a lot lately. This doesn't bother the ducks at all: they're outside whether it's raining or not. It makes no difference to them: the water rolls off their backs.
But Tom's feathers get wet. He's small and less-well developed than the others. He does the same things, except for swimming: he's reluctant to get in, except occasionally.
He can often be seen, when the others are bathing, standing on the edge of the pool and dipping his head up and down in the water, with a flick of his head as he comes up. Then he'll spend a lot of time preening, but mainly on his wet chest. You don't see him rub his preen gland then rub his head over his back like the others do.
Because he doesn't bathe himself properly he walks around much of the time with a muddy chest from where he's been rooting in the ground. They all root, but the others wash more. He'll probably need to bathe and preen properly to fly; to knit his feathers together, and have them stay dry.
Here's a short video (with fence!) of the other ducks' behaviour when there's fresh water in the pool:
19/08/2010
an early night
Day 48. Thursday 19th August 2010
I fell asleep on the sofa the next night as well, and woke about three o'clock. When I went out to check on the ducks they were outside in the pen, and I noticed they were on the duckboards on the right in the picture. When I was hosing the duckboards down in the morning I noticed there was a lot of muck on these boards, where normally there isn't much; they don't go over that side a lot in the daytime.
Then I figured that they'd probably chosen that side at night because then there would be water between them and any intruder, if there were one.
Tonight was funny. I went out to them about 9:15, it was raining and nearly dark, and all except Tom were in the pools. I stood outside their pen and said, "Come on, then", and they left the water, walked in, single file, and all went to bed.
Then I figured that they'd probably chosen that side at night because then there would be water between them and any intruder, if there were one.
Tonight was funny. I went out to them about 9:15, it was raining and nearly dark, and all except Tom were in the pools. I stood outside their pen and said, "Come on, then", and they left the water, walked in, single file, and all went to bed.
17/08/2010
fun for ducks
This is the ducks' favourite pastime, after swimming and preening: ferreting with their beaks in grass made swampy with the hose pipe. They dig out bits of root, perhaps seeds, eggs and insects, too.
ducks' dormitory
Day 46. Tuesday 17th August 2010
I haven't been sure that all the ducks are finding a place in the bedrooms. So, first I tried a small one extra, then I tried a large one extra, then decided they might as well have all of them. So now they have a four-bedroom dormitory.
Late night antics
They were all in the dormitory, and several were asleep, for three hours this afternoon. Why is that, you might ask. It's probably because they were up most of the night.
I usually leave them to go to bed when they're ready, then latch them safe in the cage for the night. This is usually about ten o'clock. But I fell asleep on the sofa last night; woke at one-thirty; went out to lock them up, and they were all, except Tom, out in the pen floating on the pool.
So I left them out.
I haven't been sure that all the ducks are finding a place in the bedrooms. So, first I tried a small one extra, then I tried a large one extra, then decided they might as well have all of them. So now they have a four-bedroom dormitory.
Late night antics
They were all in the dormitory, and several were asleep, for three hours this afternoon. Why is that, you might ask. It's probably because they were up most of the night.
I usually leave them to go to bed when they're ready, then latch them safe in the cage for the night. This is usually about ten o'clock. But I fell asleep on the sofa last night; woke at one-thirty; went out to lock them up, and they were all, except Tom, out in the pen floating on the pool.
So I left them out.
14/08/2010
last year's brood and the year's before
This video shows the same mother leading her ducklings (also hatched in the plant container) away in early May last year, through the garden and into the long grass of the field. This is what should have happened to the six little ducks on this blog, but unfortunately it didn't.
13/08/2010
how to siphon without sucking
Ducks make mucky ponds. After two or three days the pools are filthy. Fortunately, our pen is at the top of a slope, so it's easy to siphon the liquid out of the tanks.
The first couple of times I cleaned out the pool, I sucked on the pipe enough to bring the pond water up over the tank, and then let go, holding the pipe down low and waiting for the flow to start. I didn't get anything in my mouth either time, but it's a risky thing, so I looked up methods on the internet.
I had success with this method:
(Apparently, the siphon, or syphon, works by gravity, not by atmospheric pressure: See here.)
The first couple of times I cleaned out the pool, I sucked on the pipe enough to bring the pond water up over the tank, and then let go, holding the pipe down low and waiting for the flow to start. I didn't get anything in my mouth either time, but it's a risky thing, so I looked up methods on the internet.
I had success with this method:
1. With the open end level with the top of the tank liquid, fill part of the pipe with water.
2. Put your thumb over the end when the water in the pipe reaches the top.
3. Lower the pipe end to the ground and take your thumb off.
First the water you just put in will run out and stop, then, after a few seconds (or more, depending on the length of pipe), the liquid from the tank comes running out.
12/08/2010
Tom's droopy wings
Day 41. Thursday 12th August 2010
At present, the wings on all the ducks droop often and they pull them back up again, but little Tom seems to have a hard time keeping his up.
I read up on it, and I don't think it's 'angel wing'. I read somewhere that at this stage the quills making the wing feathers are full of blood and so weigh heavy. He's smaller and weaker than the others, so his muscles will tire more quickly.
He looks comical, though, when he walks around like that - like a Dickensian urchin in an oversize waistcoat.
I read up on it, and I don't think it's 'angel wing'. I read somewhere that at this stage the quills making the wing feathers are full of blood and so weigh heavy. He's smaller and weaker than the others, so his muscles will tire more quickly.
He looks comical, though, when he walks around like that - like a Dickensian urchin in an oversize waistcoat.
10/08/2010
09/08/2010
mom and dad
The mom and dad in April this year.
The girls look like their mom already, but the boys have got some way to go before they look like their dad (though seeing the scuffles going on in the spring, there could well be more than one dad.)
The girls look like their mom already, but the boys have got some way to go before they look like their dad (though seeing the scuffles going on in the spring, there could well be more than one dad.)
08/08/2010
paint brush feathers
Wing feathers coming on.
A close-up of the quills with the wing feathers growing from them. They look like a set of little paintbrushes.
swimmin with the wimmin
Day 37. Sunday 8th August 2010
This is Evan with Rosemary and Violet (I can't tell the difference between the two).
You'd think that ducks liked dirty water to forage and dig about in, but these seem to prefer it clean. After the tank has been cleaned out they all go mad in the water: washing, swimming, diving and ducking.
"Water off a duck's back" - Petal.
This is Evan with Rosemary and Violet (I can't tell the difference between the two).
You'd think that ducks liked dirty water to forage and dig about in, but these seem to prefer it clean. After the tank has been cleaned out they all go mad in the water: washing, swimming, diving and ducking.
"Water off a duck's back" - Petal.
07/08/2010
Evan and pheasant
Evan is the biggest male and a bit of a loner. I think he's still missing Lex, who he was attached to from Day 1 (she is away on holiday). He plods around and carefully, and a bit clumsily, lowers himself to sit, like an old man carefully setting himself down onto a park bench.
Tom chirps
This short video clip shows Tom eating dried mealworms. You can hear him chirping. He does this pretty much all the time, except when resting or sleeping. And he does it a lot when he's excited - like when there are mealworms.
He spends a lot of time on his own, happily chirping as he forages in the grass. Because he's the youngest and smallest he gets left behind a bit, though he doesn't stand any messing. If one of them tries to snatch the strand he's chewing, he'll quickly have a go at them.
Petal
Petal is a beautiful bird, and sleek. She's also a bit mean. She likes plenty of space around her in the pool, and will happily peck a neighbour to shift them. She also pecks the others outside the pool. I've seen her give a hard push with her beak to another female walking by the pool, who was thrown hard into the water.
I had to go in and put her on the naughty stool (my lap), yesterday, until she'd calmed down. I think being picked up is quite an affront to her dignity.
Petal collecting preen oil.
There'll be no messing with her when she's grown up.
05/08/2010
more feathers
Day 34. Thursday 5th August 2010
The feathers on this female are developing nicely. The wings have still got some way to go though.
The feathers on top of Jake's head are just starting to change to the lovely iridescent green colour of a mature male. He's becoming a man (no offence meant to mallards).
Here's a close-up:
The feathers on this female are developing nicely. The wings have still got some way to go though.
The feathers on top of Jake's head are just starting to change to the lovely iridescent green colour of a mature male. He's becoming a man (no offence meant to mallards).
Here's a close-up:
04/08/2010
new bedroom
They're getting a bit big to all fit in the hutch, though they do squeeze up tight when they're sleeping. So we've put in a barrel, with straw for a bed.
The ducks check out the barrel. Little Tom was the first in. He was chirping all the time. In fact, he chirps the most when something new happens and he gets excited - just like a little kid!
The ducks check out the barrel. Little Tom was the first in. He was chirping all the time. In fact, he chirps the most when something new happens and he gets excited - just like a little kid!
duck diet
This is what the ducks have been eating:
Sliced greens from the garden: cabbage, turnip tops, parsnip tops, beans and peas (also lettuce, but it's all gone at present, and dandelions and chickweed picked for them).
Chopped turnip.
A mixture of porridge oats, game feed (such as shooters might buy), cracked wheat, and seeds (wild bird food).
Dried mealworms - as a treat only.
If you buy dried mealworms, it's worth shopping around. You can pay up to £5 for a 100g bag, even £9.20 for 112g. In the UK, we found our local B&M Bargains offered the best deal at 100g for £1.99. Of course, if you buy from a bulk supplier you can do better.
favourite spot
Day 33. Wednesday 4th August 2010
The ducks like lying on the duckboards, and prefer the highest one. They're good for us, too, because they are easy to hose clean.
The ducks like lying on the duckboards, and prefer the highest one. They're good for us, too, because they are easy to hose clean.
03/08/2010
ducks on the duckboards
Day 32. Tuesday 3rd August 2010
Evan at front. He's been quiet lately, probably because Lex is away and he misses her.
Little Tom. He chirps most of the time and comes to the fence often. He's the youngest and smallest, so I think he still needs his mom.
Floating. The females dominate the pool.
01/08/2010
first quack
Day 30. Sunday 1st August 2010
Jake (the middle-sized drake) quacked today.
Jake (was) asleep.
Jake awake.
Out for a ride in the sun.
Brother and sister.
The ducklings' dad.
Jake (the middle-sized drake) quacked today.
Jake (was) asleep.
Jake awake.
Out for a ride in the sun.
Brother and sister.
The ducklings' dad.
Lexi says:
I make them oats most mornings, then some water and chick crumb. I add a bit of it and mix it up. They have some chick weed separately.
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