Duck Tales! (Still not what I expected to wake up to this morning)

[AlanThePig]

With the last thread almost full and a new clutch of ducklings I thought it might be time for another thread.

So this morning I was happily working away in the front garden when I happened to glance at the duck house, and saw two faces staring back....
Now I know our resident duck Egwina was on eggs, but I was convinced they were due to hatch somewhere around the end of the month. Quite surprised to spot ducklings.

As the day has worn on 14 little fluffy yellow ducklings have slowly emerged into the sunlight and launched themselves (not very gracefully) into the water. I say 14, I'm not 100% certain yet as they aren't keeping still enough to count and there might be more inside.

Difficult to photograph all together at present as some are in and some are out and they haven't yet come close enough to see. There was 12 (I think!) in this photo and 2 on the deck.
Congratulations Egwina!

Oh wow!!!!!! Imagine if they all make it!!!!
Amazing Egwina!

Oh wow

Definitely a good fund me needed

One of our local mallards

She’s been called the oh so original Jemima

She made a big hit yesterday by walking through the town centre but she luckily made it to the river safely without losing a baby. As you can see she has 2 yellow babies

We know she won’t raise all of them. The river is full of fish including pike who enjoy a baby duck. There are also herons about and other predatory birds

But she should be able to raise at least 3 as that is the average of the ducks around here. 3-4 babies raised to adult hood

Lovely! I lost the last thread

@Soubriquet

One of our local mallards

She’s been called the oh so original Jemima

She made a big hit yesterday by walking through the town centre but she luckily made it to the river safely without losing a baby. As you can see she has 2 yellow babies

We know she won’t raise all of them. The river is full of fish including pike who enjoy a baby duck. There are also herons about and other predatory birds

But she should be able to raise at least 3 as that is the average of the ducks around here. 3-4 babies raised to adult hood

Oh go Jemima! What gorgeous little yellow fluff balls they are too.

You never expect to raise a full clutch but Egwina is a lot more protected here than she would be on a river etc so who knows.

16!! 😍

Whats the Instagram name please?

@ImFree2doasiwant

Whats the Instagram name please?

@ayearonthepond

I also started a blog which I've been crap at keeping but I try haha

ayearonthepond.blogspot.com

Dumb duck question - why are two of Jemima's babies yellow? Will they grow up to look like normal ducks?

Oh absolutely yes

I would expect Egwina to raise most of those as she has such good duckguards at her quack and call

@Cavagirl

Dumb duck question - why are two of Jemima's babies yellow? Will they grow up to look like normal ducks?

I don’t know! I’ve always thought yellow ducklings grow into white ducks but google can’t confirm this

I can confirm that yellow ducklings will become white ducks when they grow. You can get white mallards, but they are usually domestic ducks, so either a bit of a genetic throwback when seen in the wild or an escaped domestic duck.

So excited to see the new thread and so many babies! 🐥

@Ciderandskatesdontmix

I can confirm that yellow ducklings will become white ducks when they grow. You can get white mallards, but they are usually domestic ducks, so either a bit of a genetic throwback when seen in the wild or an escaped domestic duck.

Thank you!

We do have white ducks in the wild around here so I’m guessing they must have escaped a long time ago and were born wild

@AlanThePig in my head you are the fairy duckmother with all those grandchicks

Yay........16 Ducklings Ooh Duncan you old rascal.

Wow, 16 baby ducklings! Thank you for sharing the joy ❤️🦆🐣

@Ciderandskatesdontmix

I can confirm that yellow ducklings will become white ducks when they grow. You can get white mallards, but they are usually domestic ducks, so either a bit of a genetic throwback when seen in the wild or an escaped domestic duck.

Ah excellent, thank you!

Just had a visitor. Chased him away for the safety of the ducklings but not before he got this......

Wow that’s a big goldfish!

@Soubriquet

Wow that’s a big goldfish!

I cheered 😂

Still feel a bit sorry for it

They obviously thrive in your pond. This would be a brilliant example of why goldfish shouldn’t be in tanks

Bloody goldfish! Good on the heron

Wow 🤩 16
Well done
Tried the instant address but all I'm getting is a name ??? post edited by MNHQ

@Robin233

instagram.com/ayearonthepond?igshid=q5c9tgtlaawz