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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
NiceTwin · 18/10/2020 20:54

We have a barn owl. We hear it every morning, with it's very distinctive squawk.

It comes in our barn, we can see both the feathers and it's droppings but we have only once seen the owl in there, but swooped out over our heads as we went in.

I love seeing it, really lifts my spirit.

Rufus27 · 18/10/2020 20:51

This thread has brought me joy!

EnjoyingTheSilence · 18/10/2020 20:47

❤️❤️❤️

YellowandGreenToBeSeen · 18/10/2020 20:45

🥰 how lovely!

I’ve got a pair of Great Tits (even if I do say so myself), a pair of Dunnocks and a Robin that come by every day. They really lift my spirits.

Your ducks are gorgeous (as is your amazing pond!)

Original poster
AlanThePig · 18/10/2020 20:40

@theGirlWithManyFaces

Ahh how lovely!

Do Herons go for duckings? Just on your comment about the shiney tape?

Yep, the heron will take a small duckling, as will a seagull. We occasionally have a sparrow hawk kicking about as well. In reality the tape probably doesn't do much and a determined, hungry predator will take them, but it makes me feel better. They are far out of the way in the middle of the pond so safe overnight hopefully.

I think we're going to have to look at constructing a bigger house next year. The last lot were sinking the current one when they got bigger. 😂
Not sure I can persuade DH toward heating though...

OP posts:
theGirlWithManyFaces · 18/10/2020 20:29

Ahh how lovely!

Do Herons go for duckings? Just on your comment about the shiney tape?

EvilPea · 18/10/2020 20:21

This weeks project you working out how to build a duck friendly heat lamp house that’s fox proof

They are beautiful. Good luck!

Original poster
AlanThePig · 18/10/2020 20:09

@userxx

How long before they will be grown up enough to deal with the elements?
From everything I've read (and thats a lot today), aside from the usual risks of foxes etc the main risk this time of year comes with frost bite. They have the duck house which has a platform so they will probably laze about on that, plus there is the pier at the side.

I believe they reach somewhere near fully grown in around 30 days, in theory they then fledge around 50/60 days, so should be off around Christmas.

If the weather stays 'ok' until mid/end November, we might get away with this....

OP posts:
Horsemad · 18/10/2020 19:55

Awww, I saw a brood? of ducklings yesterday when out walking and was a bit surprised as have never seen any this late in the year.

userxx · 18/10/2020 19:45

How long before they will be grown up enough to deal with the elements?

AdoraBell · 18/10/2020 19:32

😍😀

VeggieSausageRoll · 18/10/2020 19:28
Envy

Duck envy
Garden envy
Probably house envy too!

All I get is the neighbours cat using the gravel as a toilet Angry

Norugratsatall · 18/10/2020 19:22

Ah yes thanks OP. Thought that was a pic of the current brood. They are gorgeous and I'm sure you spend lots of happy hours watching them. 😊

Original poster
AlanThePig · 18/10/2020 18:24

@Norugratsatall

Ah lovely story OP. An antidote to all the grimness that's abound atm.

Is that a daffodil I see in The first picture? 🤔

That was brood number one at the door, they were a few days old in that image.

Number two haven't really left Mum yet, she's sat in the grasses with them under her (as an aside, the grasses get cut back early October to help with growth so she's found a kind of island to sit on thats waterlogged all around so it's a reasonably safe spot). They did briefly venture out for a run on the lily pads earlier.

I think they have headed into the duck house for the night, fingers crossed there are still ten in the morning. I shall update.

NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...
OP posts:
Soubriquet · 18/10/2020 18:17

I might be a soft touch here but could you get in a small shed with a heater that could be put on in the winter?

Add a small hole for them to go in when she wants to? BlushGrin

Bargebill19 · 18/10/2020 18:14

@Haffdonga

Duckdates please Smile
This!!
bitheby · 18/10/2020 18:13

They grow really quickly. My pet duck hatched 11, four weeks ago. I was worried as we had some frosty nights when they were around a week old but at that age they could still fit under her to stay warm. They're far too big now but their feathers are just starting to come in so I think they'll be fine now. They snuggle up together to sleep.

Haffdonga · 18/10/2020 18:08

@Norugratsatall

Ah lovely story OP. An antidote to all the grimness that's abound atm.

Is that a daffodil I see in The first picture? 🤔

Your point is? OP explained the first brood hatched 23rd March which visited her kitchen. Daffodil time, right?
LunaLoveFood · 18/10/2020 18:08

They are so cute!

Haffdonga · 18/10/2020 18:06

Duckdates please Smile

Someaddedsugar · 18/10/2020 18:04

Another very jealous person here Grin

Norugratsatall · 18/10/2020 18:03

Ah lovely story OP. An antidote to all the grimness that's abound atm.

Is that a daffodil I see in The first picture? 🤔

Maryfloppins · 18/10/2020 18:01

Please can we have daily duckling updates. Would be such a wonderful thing to read each day in this current covid climate of gloom .

lightyearsahead · 18/10/2020 18:01

We have just feed 60 or so ducks on the expensive floating food. An absolute joy. No new babies though. Enjoy your little ones

VictoriaBun · 18/10/2020 18:00

Awww and I get excited when a hedgehog comes into ours ! We do have a resident pheasant, and for the first year a red squirrel. We rushed out and got a squirrel feeder and put hazelnuts in it and love watching it burying the nuts in the grass