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.

I’d contact the canal trust, there may be someone local that can collect it and check it over before putting back in the canal, or post on your local FB page as someone may know who to contact.

I live by a canal and local people generally know who to contact when there’s a problem with the ducks ect on the canal.

canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us/ways-to-contact-us

[quote bythehairsonmychinichinchin]I’d contact the canal trust, there may be someone local that can collect it and check it over before putting back in the canal, or post on your local FB page as someone may know who to contact.

I live by a canal and local people generally know who to contact when there’s a problem with the ducks ect on the canal.

canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us/ways-to-contact-us[/quote]
You don't need to contact anyone unless it's injured. It's a wild bird, it will fly away. They move from area to area quite regularly.

Atm he’s wolfed down the corn and is back in the water preening himself. Think I’m probably just a duck b&b.

I used to feed ducks when I was teenager.

One morning I looked outside to find 5 duck faces pressed against the glass of my patio doors because I was late feeding them

I wish I had a duck in my garden. Am so jealous!

@Potionqueen

Atm he’s wolfed down the corn and is back in the water preening himself. Think I’m probably just a duck b&b.

We get the occasional overnighter, few moorhens, another pair of mallards and a pair of Canada Geese. They turn up for a day or two then fly off again. The geese are a bit of a pain, they become quite arsey if you don't feed them and sit hissing outside the front door.

I imagine yours is having a rest for a few hours, possibly overnight, then she'll pop off to ponds anew.

We had a pair of mallards who came every spring for several years - I assume the same ones, as they came rushing straight towards us for food as soon as they landed for the first time each year, as though they remembered the routine.

I bought special duck pellets for them and filled a huge potting tray with fresh water; they used to hang out every day for a couple of months just lazing, eating and napping, then fly off at dusk and come back next day. They hatched at least two broods in different years - there’s a small river not far away so the mum could get them to water. They usually headed off for good about May/June-time.

One late summer, long after they’d departed for the year, I was sitting in the conservatory when there was a sudden flurry of wings and a female duck peered in through the open door. I’m convinced it was the female of our pair dropping in on the off-chance of food - I gave her some pellets and she gobbled them up then took off again.

Two years ago they just didn’t turn up and we haven’t seen them since.

Oh @Halsall thats so sad. Our pair do disappear but only for a few days, a week at most. I'd be gutted if they left permanently, they have names and personalities.

DH buys special floating duck food for ours, it's stupidly expensive and at one point when all the babies were here it was costing us £35 a month in duck food.

@Soubriquet

I used to feed ducks when I was teenager.

One morning I looked outside to find 5 duck faces pressed against the glass of my patio doors because I was late feeding them

😂. How lovely!

Duncan and Egwina and our pair of visiting geese. Happily not seen the geese for a few months. Full time job clearing goose shit from the drive 😂

You don't need to contact anyone unless it's injured. It's a wild bird, it will fly away. They move from area to area quite regularly

If it’s still there tomorrow I’d probably call for advice, as if it’s injured and can’t fly it’s open to being attacked by foxes ect...

Beautiful @SistersOfPercy

@bythehairsonmychinichinchin

You don't need to contact anyone unless it's injured. It's a wild bird, it will fly away. They move from area to area quite regularly

If it’s still there tomorrow I’d probably call for advice, as if it’s injured and can’t fly it’s open to being attacked by foxes ect...

It might well stay for a few days. They can actually nest in trees and will take to them at night out of the way of predators.
Ducks are extremely clever. The only time I've ever seen one let it's guard down was mid mating season when one male was so busy scrapping with another it didn't see the cat approach.

One turned up at our local butchers the other week (caused much hilarity), we think it was one of our babies as it was incredibly tame. The butcher had a few days of worriedly posting on FB about it still being there in the yard, but after a few days off it flew again. It's just what ducks do.

@SistersOfPercy that’s interesting about trees. How do they defend themselves if they’re injured and can’t fly though?

I love ducks and swans, I’d love a pet duck

We had a duck stay for 2 days, no pond, then flew off. Unless there's injuries just enjoy watching him/her

A few months ago I had to get the rspca involved because a swan on the canal had swallowed a fishing hook/line. It was dangling from its mouth. They where pretty good and the swan was back on his terrority the next day minus the line.
He’s the only swan who lets me pass by without hissing at me (could be my imagination).

Stompyis that your Duck Castle?

I wish! I have the pic in order to point out to dp that our ducks aren't as indulged as he thinks.

Dp has a difficult relationship ship with them as our drake loves me and comes for a stroke, but dislikes dp and pecks him. He is a long suffering partner of a duck lover!

@Potionqueen
You HAD a hot tub, it now has to be fashioned into a pond for Mr Ducklington asap please!!

Heated duck pond sounds perfect!

For the last two winters I have a male pheasant that comes in the garden for food (he loves cold rice) he disappears once the lady pheasants appear in the spring, I hope he returns this autumn.

[quote bythehairsonmychinichinchin]@SistersOfPercy that’s interesting about trees. How do they defend themselves if they’re injured and can’t fly though?

I love ducks and swans, I’d love a pet duck[/quote]
In nature they would be picked off. Although never underestimate a duck. I’ve watched males fight and draw blood. I guess if you knew for sure a duck was injured you’d contact local wildlife trusts for help. In this case wild ducks do appear in gardens randomly and are generally not a cause for worry.

I’ve had to find this balance. The first year we lived here DH was running out in his slippers chasing off wayward males who were attacking our male. Had to try and make him understand that really it’s nature and we can’t interfere in it. It’s hard to stand by and watch sometimes but these are wild birds and if we change anything it can affect population balances etc.

If you have a small pond though and get yourself a decoy female you will most likely encourage any passing males to pop in for a visit. 😊

Dp has a difficult relationship ship with them as our drake loves me and comes for a stroke, but dislikes dp and pecks him. He is a long suffering partner of a duck lover!

Then, Stompy, the obvious solution is that your DP builds Drake a cardboard castle. He can hold off on the crown for now.

Zebra I agree and I shall let him know that you support this plan!

My parents have regular duck visitors as well and they come to the back door with their little babies for food. Like the pp it costs my parents a fortune in duck food!

Ducks are definitely getting bolder - these 2 nosy bastards wanted to come in & get their own bread...