A duck has taken residence in our back garden

[Potionqueen]

We live very close to a canal. Someone has decided to take up residence in our garden.

She looks like a young duck, maybe one if this year’s brood . Is she nesting ? Would be very late in the year if so.

They look lovely!

Any sign of them being injured or having difficulty getting in the air?

Ooh! . I love ducks.

Not sure SirVix. She definitely wasn’t there this morning and just appeared.

Can’t see any obvious signs of injury. She’s moving about ok.

I am very envious.

I'll just leave this here...

Not sure why the image didn't show having another try.

Oops, now it is there twice, sorry!

But are all these ducks in a row?

I love ducks too, and would be delighted if one took up residence in my garden. I'd be worried about her being lonely though - she needs duck friends!

That duck's little crown! 😂

It's a male in eclipse plumage - they go brown like females in late summer when they moult their flight feathers, but keep their yellow bills. He may not be able to fly very well right now but he will soon :)

This quacked me up

Are you going to take duck keeping seriously, or just dabble in it?

Have put some corn down for her/him.

Never mind corn, get building a bigger water feature, pronto!

Well we do have a hot tub as well?????

@Potionqueen

Well we do have a hot tub as well?????

Always makes me laugh at centre Parcs if you swim early morning there’s normally ducks in the outside pond and the rapids....think they like the warm water!

Pool not pond!

Corn is good, ducks can also eat bird seed, meal worms and chicken food (layers pellets - although you have to add brrwers yeast as a niacin supplement if it is their only food).

My duckies favourite is half a watermelon.

He’s lovely, I’m sure he’ll move on if he wants to. He might just be enjoying the peace and quiet.

Awwwww! You are lovely OP taking care of duckie. Can you put down a bigger pool - like a washing up bowl?

And what are you going to name him?

@Stompythedinosaur

Corn is good, ducks can also eat bird seed, meal worms and chicken food (layers pellets - although you have to add brrwers yeast as a niacin supplement if it is their only food).

My duckies favourite is half a watermelon.

We need a photo!!

I'd love a duck to move into my garden!! But a potty trained one! They make a lot of mess!!

Stompy is that your Duck Castle?

Looks like one of this years brood. Hard to tell male from female this time of year as they shed feathers so all look very similar, though yours does look female.

We also have wild ducks, though we do have a big pond. First day of lock down ours had ten lovely little ducklings. They were tame enough to come to the door for food and have actually wandered into the hall where the food is kept before now, they also follow me around the garden. All the babies have flown now so it's just Mum and Dad left.

Lots of people panic a bit when wild ducks turn up, but they are only the same as any other wild bird really. They come and go where the food is and even a wild duck will take itself somewhere safe at night away from predators.

Here are mine, demanding dinner...