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!

I hear you on the pigeons 🙄, I had to lower the basket he’s sitting on so they couldn’t reach the feeders as they were clearing them out. Though as you can see we have other visitors too 🤣

Aww love a squirrel. We have one too but we only tend to see him when there is brioche on the bird table. He’s rather fussy.

Meanwhile, we appear to have eggs in the second house. Egwina is nowhere to be seen. One of the ducklings had rolled one out.

What does this mean? Are they Egwinas?

@Lorddenning1

What does this mean? Are they Egwinas?

Honestly? I don’t know. The other pair haven’t been here so they must be Egwinas, ducklings are far too young. I think she’s probably abandoned the nest for whatever reason, though if ducks work like geese they lay a clutch over the course of a week or so before they start to sit on them.

I shall watch and wait.

God it’s high drama on the pond isn’t it! Will you try to put the ousted egg back in the nest?

@FelicityBeedle

God it’s high drama on the pond isn’t it! Will you try to put the ousted egg back in the nest?

No, I'm not interfering. The ducklings seem to be sheltering in that house on and off so I assume they have rolled it out accidentally. I can't actually see any eggs this morning but its been too wet to really go and look closely. The first year Egwina and Duncan were here she nested in the original house. She was in there for weeks until finally she threw all the eggs out into the water one by one. We assumed she somehow knows they aren't viable. If I had to guess I'd say she's thrown the new lot out, or the ducklings have hoofed them.

I'm reasonably sure we'll have another clutch, but not until August ish.

Just discovered this lovely thread! What a great read and glad to see that the ducklings are doing well - is there a different word for a juvenile duck or is just duckling then duck?!

We walk over a small river to get to school and there are ducks and a pair of swans. Haven't seen any cygnets yet this year (they usually keep them further upstream away from the footpaths) but last week one of the ducks was swimming long with 9 teeny pocket rockets chirping after her.

Perhaps teenage ducks could be Ducket(te?)s? Or Ducklet, or Duckish?

I keep chickens and yes broody hens do know which eggs are non viable, (throw them out to stop them exploding in a bacteria laden stinky mess over good eggs/new chicks) and sadly also chicks which are weaklings or non viable, for same reason ( to protect live, stronger chicks)

Nature is ruthless to perpetuate the gene pool.

Have you got any pond left after all this lovely weather @AlanThePig

@FelicityBeedle

Have you got any pond left after all this lovely weather *@AlanThePig*

It’s actually really high at the moment from all the rain we’ve had over last month though expect it to drop a bit now.

Ducklings can now fly a little and are skimming across the water. I expect them to go anytime after this week really. Meanwhile we think Egwina might well be on eggs again. She’s back in house number one and only appearing at mealtimes again….

Here she is yesterday with the ducklings in the background, she’d popped out for tea 😂

She's a born mum!

Wow they’re so grown up, practically ducks not ducklings!

And you thought Egwina had a lot...

[quote Heronatemygoldfish]And you thought Egwina had a lot...

[/quote] I learned a few weeks ago that on ponds with a few nesting females (not a territorial harridan like Egwina) that ducks will crèche their ducklings. I’d seen a photo of a female mallard with 72 behind her and it was explained that they are happy to leave all ducklings with one ‘nanny’. Fascinating.

Oh that's so lovely @AlanThePig

Watching two tiny birds on my patio fly in and out feeding their brood.
We've got robins, blue tits and blackbirds plus the bl*ody magpies I have to keep shooing away.
We are inundated with magpies where I live. I always say " Hello Mr Magpie " to ward off bad luck. I'm going around the neighbourhood like a nutter talking to herself the magpies. 🙄

Would anyone like to admire my recently added flowerbed? Look closer. I don't recall planting those....

Well it is a bed😂😂😂looks lovely!!!

More 😱 wowza!

Nice boarder 🦆. Those anatis look fabulous and are growing well 😀

@AlanThePig I’ve discovered a ducks nest in our garden this week but we’ve no pond, just grass and planting. It’s completely fenced in so when they hatch I’ll have to let them out via the side gate. A bit of a silly question but will they (mum and ducklings) return to the nest each day for a bit or will it be left day one?

[quote ureterr1blemuriel]@AlanThePig I’ve discovered a ducks nest in our garden this week but we’ve no pond, just grass and planting. It’s completely fenced in so when they hatch I’ll have to let them out via the side gate. A bit of a silly question but will they (mum and ducklings) return to the nest each day for a bit or will it be left day one?[/quote]
Oh wonderful!!!
How close are you to the nearest pond? What usually happens is they hatch first thing in a morning and mum will lead them to water. If she needs to cross roads etc for this you might need to keep an eye open and help out You say open the gate? Could a duckling squeeze under? If so mum will probably hop over and they will follow.

Once she's at the water I don't think she'll return to the nest, especially if it's a way from the pond. She'll most likely find a spot on the waters edge at that point and somewhere to huddle in for the night.

Good luck!

@SquashMinusIsShit

More 😱 wowza!

These are our 'about to fledge' ducklings, though Egwina is definitely on more eggs now so more to come......

[quote ureterr1blemuriel]@AlanThePig I’ve discovered a ducks nest in our garden this week but we’ve no pond, just grass and planting. It’s completely fenced in so when they hatch I’ll have to let them out via the side gate. A bit of a silly question but will they (mum and ducklings) return to the nest each day for a bit or will it be left day one?[/quote]
@ureterr1blemuriel, Would you consider a paddling pool until they are ready to fly away? One of the cheap plastic ones?

My work is on the grounds of a nature reserve. There is an outdoor courtyard in the middle of the building so can only be accessed from above by ducks. Every year the ducks come to nest in the courtyard because it's sheltered from most of the predators (mainly stoats). The only main worry for them is the hawks.
It's become a thing each year to set up a paddling pool for the ducks so they have water and to feed them. Then when they are all ready they fly away. Even last year when we were all at home someone still looked after them. One of the site staff members would send email updates to us all. They are back this year as well, though we've not had many updates so far.

Fab, thanks @AlanThePig I think the nearest pond is c.100 meters from here but there’s loads in the village so plenty to choose from. I think they will be able to fit under the gate - I just hope they find the way out. I’ll keep checking each morning.

Mum is very nervous and not touched the water we left out (an upturned lid off the water butt!) so not sure if she’ll take any food. We have lots of ducks in the village but since the PC asked everyone not to feed them (as most gave bread that attracted rats) they are no longer used to humans and very wary.

We are now thinking of getting a small pond as it’s heavy clay and quite a wet garden so she may want to come back for round two!

Thanks @Figmentofimagination. I told DH that the old xmas tree (where she is hidden behind!) will have to stay until next Christmas when it can be replaced. It’s very well sheltered and by a dead end by the side of the house - they will be safe there. We do have buzzards in the next field but they keep away from the village so I’m hoping they’ll be ok once hatched.