The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sokel on September 02, 2012, 07:55:26 pm
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About 5 weeks ago there was a little drake turned up. It was covered in oil and had a limp. Anyway we took it in got it cleaned up and sorted out.
It stayed here going for a wander around the fields during the day and going into the barn at night.
On friday night he didnt come back and we have not seen him since.
I have been out all afternoon on a microchiping course got back at 5pm and we where met with lots of quacking ::)
We now have around 25 ducks out there :o all colours from white, kaki and chocolate brown including our little one. they are all full sized ducks apart from our little one who looks like a call duck cross
Its getting dark here and they are all sitting outside the barn settling down for the night.
Called all of the locals and nobody has lost them ::)
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We used to have shooting on the estate here - but that stopped this year but there are still ducks, including some Calls on the estate pond - I wonder how long into winter it will take till they move up here to the 'never empty' food dish. The game keeper has been 'let go' so the next food supply is here!!
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;D ;D ;D
Just went to fetch his mates .... bless him :D
A small drake joined my dad's Indian Runners once and lived out his days with them. He wouldn't always come in at night to be locked up but always returned in the mornings. Wonder if all your new friends mean to stay :o ;D [size=78%] [/size]
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I am hopeing that they go wherever they came from at first light !
I was a bit foolish though :-[ I have just been out to see if they where still there and given them a hugh trough of brewers grains :innocent: They are happily tucking in to them
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Lol, i would do the same!
Helen
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maybe someone dumped them with you, knowing you're a caring person ??? . If they are domestic they probably won't go anywhere. Can't you just keep them and enjoy? Others would pay a small fortune for 25 ducks ;D (let's say £ 15-25 per girl)!
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I did wonder if they had been dumped because a lot of people in the north of england know I do Guineapig rescue and that I do take in other animals in urgent cases.
They are definatly domestic ducks and still here ::)
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shame you are that far away - I'd take some off your hands... :&>
you can always take them to a poultry auction if no home is found. :&>
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Aw - sweet
He went and called his family and friends ;D
are there ducks or all drakes?
Good luck!
Divide em up and get 'em sold :innocent:
freeads etc online
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Well just come in and they are still all there
I have not had a really close look at them to sex them as I always have at least 2 of the dogs with me and although the dogs are 100% with all animals the ducks have obviously not seen dogs before and run accross the field as soon as They see the dogs.
will pop out later without the dogs tto see if I can see what there is.
Judging by the amount of quacking there does seem to be a fair few female ducks though
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We could do with some luck like you. Our car is in a garrage 950 km away and we have no way to go out and buy duck or rabbit food. There are only so many ducks you can keep going on lettuce and there is little green stuff ( drought) for the rabbits. I have been killing , plucking and skinning things all day.
It would be great to find some free food after the luck we have had with things of late. Hope you enjoy the ducks.
Martin
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Awww, he was the scout looking for a nice place for his friends to live - when he found yours he went back for them ;D
I've just been adopted by 14 mallards, a mum and her 13 nearly full-grown ducklings! This is on top of my own 20 ducks, runners and calls. I'm sort of pleased but know that half of them will be drakes and don't want them interbreeding or hassling. I suppose I could eat them when it gets to that point :P
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We have a constant dozen mallards (often a LOT more) on our pond - they keep to themselves though and don't breed with the others. Eat lots of food though ::)
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Well they are still all here, they keep going for a wander accross the fields but as soon as they hear voices you see them running accross the fields towards you
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/grahamsokel/ducks.jpg)
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Thanks for the piture! I want some :-[ :-[ . They are definitely domestic (Appleyards and 1 Aylesbury? Correct me , folks, if wrong) and must be used to being fed!! Out in the open they are probably quite vulnerable at night! :&> :&>