[faith0504]

I have just been given 2 ducks, a white Indian runner and a white aylesbury( think thats how you spell it) , i have just settled them into there new living quarters, they are looking very confused and wondering where on earth they are at the moment, will i be ok to let them out tomorrow, so they can have a wander round there new pad and pond, they will have the run of the back garden with my hens.

[Pony-n-trap]

I should think so, if they can get out, have a waddle and a dunk in their pond they will soon be settled in am sure!

[little blue]

quack, quack!

I find our ducks really funny... they've always got something to say for themselves & are just so comical to watch when ther're swimming! 

[northfifeduckling]

I love my ducks , you will, too! You might not have much of a garden left soon, though

[faith0504]

i have named them Mavis and Matilda, they are elderly apparently, they have eventually plucked the courage up to venture out, and are having a swim and a preen, bless them.

The original idea was to have any hens, ducks, on the land with the horses, but we have have alot of foxes, badgers and pine martins so i thought the back garden would be safer, with the smell of dogs. I would much rather have a messy garden and know my girls are safe, its there play area and home so long as they are happy then i will put up with the mess, the hens are wondering what on earth is going on at the min.

[northfifeduckling]

same here, faith. I would not want to be without them, even if they decimated what could be called lawn over the years! No way I would let them go completely free with foxes nearby! I also don't want them to eat all the wildlife in the pond, so it's a no-go area for the ducks!  I do have plans to fence of part of the lawn to reseed, hope this will be in the greater scheme of things this year and we can have folks round again to sit in the "garden", lol. 

[faith0504]

I love the way they waddle about, and it fascinates me when they throw water over there backs and it just glides off, completely waterproof, they are amazing I'm going to have lots of fun and many happy hours watching them i think, and possibly introduce some more in the spring, watch this space 

[sabrina]

My boys love to get very messy, I have to clean out their paddling pool every day. so far they have not ventured near my garden but spend most of the time in the back paddock.

[Pony-n-trap]

Well mine absolutely love me at the minute......or maybe its the iceberg lettuce they love!!  Have struggled be sure they have had enough to eat these passed few weeks, but, this morning when I was letting them and the chickens out, I spotted some green stuff poking through the mud, if I remember rightly its called..........GRASS!!!

On a sadder note, have come home from my horses to find one of my bantams, drowned in the pond, one of the first I hatched from the incubator, RIP little chicken.

[faith0504]

oh bless the poor little thing 

[northfifeduckling]

what a shame, poor thing!