[faith0504]

We started off with 2, mavis and matilda, my indian runner and alyesbury, then came charles, camilla and diana, the 3 khaki campbells, and yesterday we went to pick up 5 call ducks, and came home with 9, so we now have giggs and co, they are so cute,

Happily wandering round there new garden this morning,

I do love my ducks

[Dizzycow]

I adore my ducks, too. I'm loving hatching my (white) IRs, three eggs are pipping at the moment!

[faith0504]

oh gosh i have some duck eggs in the incubator as well, they are due in 2 weeks, good luck with your new arrivals 

[goosepimple]

Yes they are addictive!  I love the whole social antics that go on with them, they're great therapy to sit and watch.  We had friends looking after our smallholding this past week and I said our Muscovy ducks would be hatching probably towards the end of their stay here - they were desperate to see them - unfortunately we discovered only 30mins after they left that one of the Muscovy's has just hatched overnight, so our friends have missed it, what a shame....I love little call ducks, they're just so perfect looking, they'd get eaten here unfortunately.  Good luck with them I'm quite jealous 

[doganjo]

I'd love to hatch more, but i'm worried in case they are all drakes this time - I got 3 females last time

[goosepimple]

Now dog, I recently heard a true story about a hen that turned into a cockerel - it was over a year old and had been laying - seemingly it can happend to one in every thousand!!!!!? Anyone out there back this up? ....hmmm, wonder if it can happen to a drakeduck

[doganjo]

Yes, I had one that did that.  I believe it can happen in most bird species.  And humans too?  Well not the laying eggs bit  but having both sets of organs.

[jaykay]

I love my ducks too  Somehow I've got flotillas of both calls and runners at the moment. Will have to find some homes (and put some drakes in the freezer) before the winter 

[Womble]

Yes, I'm loving our Indian Runners. No eggs yet, but they're almost fully grown, so it can't be long now  .

They are terribly flighty and nervous though, so I was wondering if anybody could suggest another tamer type of duck we could keep along with them?  Sad I know, but it would be really nice to have a few animals who would come along and say hello to me occasionally, rather than running away all the time!!

[jaykay]

When they are resting, go and sit as near as they will let you - err on the side of caution.

Don't look at them.

Arm yourself with something irresistible like mealworms or sultanas. Throw some down, between you and them.

Don't look at them (ducks are prey and humans have front-facing predators' eyes).

Repeat as often as you can, they'll get tamer. Ours run away if I'm walking but now come fossicking around if I sit down  

[faith0504]

Hi Womble, the call ducks i have just got are not as flighty as my other ducks, they have only been here a day and they let me sit at the edge of there pond while they had a water fight with each other, and soaked me in the process.

Jaykay, i will give that a try and see how friendly i can get giggs and co 

[madhouse]

I have just registered and lost a whole afternoon reading all sorts of posts!!! Keeping it very short for now as i need to run rather rapidly to collect my "human" brood from school. I need as much advice as possible about incubating aylesbury eggs. Temp, humidity, length of incubation etc. I will be back shortly to explain my history so far with my mummy and daddy ducks!!!!! xxx

[doganjo]

I have just registered and lost a whole afternoon reading all sorts of posts!!! Keeping it very short for now as i need to run rather rapidly to collect my "human" brood from school. I need as much advice as possible about incubating aylesbury eggs. Temp, humidity, length of incubation etc. I will be back shortly to explain my history so far with my mummy and daddy ducks!!!!! xxx

Know the feeling - should have been out with my dogs.  Off out now then classes at night so will read up on you late evening.  Welcome to the forum meantime!

[gem]

Now dog, I recently heard a true story about a hen that turned into a cockerel - it was over a year old and had been laying - seemingly it can happend to one in every thousand!!!!!? Anyone out there back this up? ....hmmm, wonder if it can happen to a drakeduck

its common enough in gamefowl, the type you mentioned is known as a staghen, a superb shamo pullet that had started laying turned into a poor quality cockeral, grew hackle feathers and started crowing.... to say i was disapointed is an understatement, it was the best hen id ever bred, turned down 300euro for her, ended up selling her/him for 50euro 

in gamefowl there is also a highly sought after type of cockeral called a hennie, they look just like a hen but are male

[goosepimple]

....is anything simple anymore?