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Original poster

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...

969 replies

AlanThePig · 18/10/2020 15:12

Some of you might recall we have a rather large pond in our garden. On it we have a pair of ducks. First day of lockdown appeared ten, beautiful ducklings. They grew up, flew away and that was that until next spring.

Except I woke up to this......
There are ten more (seven in this photo) and I can only assume the warm weather has thoroughly confused her.

I'm now going spend the next few months fretting over bloody wildlife.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
Thread gallery
87
Thorilicious · 18/11/2020 08:21

Just caught up on this amazing thread! Have to admit though, I'm a bit worried that the younglings will think it's the done thing to leave your ducklings overnight, when they have little ones!

Skipsurvey · 18/11/2020 07:21

what a joyful thread.
do you feed them lettuce?

Searchesforhipbones · 18/11/2020 06:52

Can you imagine her AIBU though?

‘Had ten children earlier in lockdown, did my best for them, so pleased to finally be an emptynester when lo and behold a night out with DDH and now we have another ten! DDH has always been the type to come and go as he pleases, of course the kids don’t judge him. AIBU to do the same as him this time round, esp as helpful land neighbour nannies them?’

Cavagirl · 17/11/2020 22:49

Ah so glad they made it to 4 weeks! Shamelessly place marking for updates here...

fizzyp0p · 17/11/2020 22:39

Lovely update

Original poster
AlanThePig · 17/11/2020 19:00

Strictly speaking bread shouldn't be fed to ducks and swans as it has very little nutritional value for them

Indeed. And at £30 a bag of food thats why I'll always be poor 😂
That said, the RSPB did say last year that feeding bread is better than nothing. If anything I chuck bread in for the fish, they go at it like piranhas and it's fascinating to watch them attack it. Lord knows this lot wont lower themselves to it.

All is well here. Egwina and Duncan were both out all night again, returning about nine this morning. Ducklings unphased by this now. Adult feathers are coming thick and fast, will try and get some pictures tomorrow. Trying to hazard guesses as to who's male and who's female at present. Hopefully more females this time to make up for all the boys we sent out last time lol

OP posts:
RedRosie · 17/11/2020 18:04

I hope all is well with the big ducks and the little ducks today 🦆 @AlanThePig... And that the weather remains clement with you.

Hollyhobbi · 17/11/2020 00:56

Strictly speaking bread shouldn't be fed to ducks and swans as it has very little nutritional value for them. I learned this from the signs at the canal behind my house! We rarely see ducklings on it though just ducks. We do see cygnets sometimes. But I fecking hate swans, they can be vicious feckers and when they are on land they seem massive and their beaks seem even more massive! @AlanThePig you're flying it with your duckling hand rearing skills. And your thread makes a welcome change from the mil, ex, manager, colleague bashing and Covid threads😊.

GarlicSoup · 16/11/2020 23:37

@AlanThePig

We do have a duck house, and it's a floating one so they are fairly safe. Ducks are fed on an expensive floating food.

She's very tame with us for a wild duck, last time she brought all the ducklings to the front door daily for food so I expect she'll start doing that again (if you're not quick enough she'll come in). She's had a bit of food from me earlier and I'll go and throw her a bit more shortly.

I'm worrying and there is little I can do other than keep the food coming. I do hope they all survive.

Fabulous garden. Is that you your Majesty?
HollyandIvyandallthingsYule · 16/11/2020 23:34

❤️❤️❤️

Cakeismyhero · 16/11/2020 23:24

Yey I found the thread again! I loved reading about the ducklings and their parents the other day, then promptly lost the thread. So pleased to read all still present and correct

fizzyp0p · 16/11/2020 23:21

Hope all is well. Will look out for a new thread Smile

Original poster
AlanThePig · 15/11/2020 22:52

Nah cos they'd know they would turn their noses (beaks) up at bread

True that. They'd know to knock on for a bag of food, as if they would lower themselves to bread! 😂

OP posts:
TheOneTheOnlyPedroPony · 15/11/2020 22:44

@NoGoodPunsLeft

Also had an unknown couple turn up at the end of the drive earlier to see them

Someone from this thread maybe...

Nah cos they'd know they would turn their noses (beaks) up at bread Grin
NoGoodPunsLeft · 15/11/2020 20:09

Also had an unknown couple turn up at the end of the drive earlier to see them

Someone from this thread maybe...

RandomMess · 15/11/2020 19:40

You have been so well trained...

Original poster
AlanThePig · 15/11/2020 19:11

They must have amazing hearing because they know when I get up, they then all congregate under the bedroom window looking up and shouting.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
madroid · 15/11/2020 18:12

No wonder they fly off sometimes - imagine seven teenagers in the (duck) house all at the same time! Grin

RedRosie · 15/11/2020 17:08

Hello @AlanThePig

They look great (in a scruffy sort of way!).

Don't underestimate your part in their survival so far. Well done and good job 👍

(Keep posting!)

MrsGulDukat · 15/11/2020 14:35

I'm so jealous. I'd love a pet Duck.

Original poster
AlanThePig · 15/11/2020 14:21

@Soubriquet

Course they would be fine

She has employed very good reliable duck nannies Grin

You're not kidding. Just nipped out to the shop and ended up shooing them off down the drive so I didn't flatten them with the car. Meanwhile Egwina and Duncan sat watching.

Also had an unknown couple turn up at the end of the drive earlier to see them. I think they threw them bread, but being rather spoiled they were disinterested 😂

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 15/11/2020 14:17

Course they would be fine

She has employed very good reliable duck nannies Grin

Original poster
AlanThePig · 15/11/2020 14:15

We made it to four weeks! They are a real scruffy bunch now with the adult feather coming though. They sit on the bank or the deck now pulling out old feathers. Happily mum and dad are still here and looking at the feathers today I’m quite confident if they buggered off again we’d be fine.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
Ellmau · 15/11/2020 10:23

they are too big for a heron at this point

Don't be too sure, my DPs used to live by a pond and stream, and once saw a heron eating a full grown duck. (It did struggle a bit, but down it went.)

Lovely thread btw. DPs also had a resident mother duck (they called her Jemima) bring her babies to be fed by hand, it was so cute. She had two blokes on hand, we were never sure if they were potential dads or her brothers.

RandomMess · 15/11/2020 09:51

They can be a raft, team or paddling apparently 😍

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