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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:

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Original poster

AlanThePig · 26/11/2020 12:43

@IsFinnRogersDead

Will Duckingham Palace come equipped with solar powered indoor heating?

And is the middle of the pond still in your wifi range because I've seen some solar and battery powered wildlife wifi cameras. Some with speakers so you could talk to the ducks in their house on the pond whilst you still inside

We've had this conversation actually and concluded a wildlife cam was probably a bit pointless as all we'd see is her sat on a nest. The ducklings come out pretty much as soon as they hatch so not much to see. I think we will put a solar light on there though. If I could be arsed to put my waders on and pull the current house in I'd put some battery lights on it. No heating though.

The trouble with a lot of duck houses you can buy is they seem to have been made by people with little experience of ducks. The platforms surrounding the house are far too small to accommodate growing ducklings and the houses aren't really big enough for a reasonable sized clutch after a week or two. Only problem is my ideas keep getting bigger and the budget goes up 😂😂

OP posts:

IsFinnRogersDead · 26/11/2020 13:11

But if you had a camera you'd know if she had eggs. And then if she was in there actually looking after the ducklings or off out on the town. And if she wasn't there you could talk to the ducklings

LittleMissNaice · 26/11/2020 13:19

A camera might not be much use to you but it would save poor Duncan from having to come to the door in the cold to demand his breakfast.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 26/11/2020 13:37

@IsFinnRogersDead

But if you had a camera you'd know if she had eggs. And then if she was in there actually looking after the ducklings or off out on the town. And if she wasn't there you could talk to the ducklings

You can tell pretty easily if she's on eggs as her habits change quite obviously. She only comes over for food once a day, then has a good wash, stretches her wings, has a brief fly to the other side of the pond and then back in. She's like clockwork.

Fair point about the ducklings going back in though, although the cameras are very expensive and I think I'd rather put the money into a decent house for them rather than an expensive camera.

A camera might not be much use to you but it would save poor Duncan from having to come to the door in the cold to demand his breakfast

Duncan needs to stop gadding about, he's quite vocal though, he wont starve

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 26/11/2020 15:20

These are turning out to be two spoiled ducks!!!

A heated palace with cameras and speakers! Lucky ducks...literally

I’m coming back as a duck in my next life and making sure I live in your lake

RandomMess · 26/11/2020 17:01

Hopefully the frost will mean Edwina will not get herself up the duff until a more appropriate time of year!

doodleygirl · 26/11/2020 17:08

I am so envious of your beautiful ducks and pond

RedRosie · 27/11/2020 21:38

@AlanThePig I hope that all is well as it's been a bit nippy.

I've been passing the photos to my very elderly frail Mother ... She loves them and they've cheered her. Keep them coming!

Original poster

AlanThePig · 27/11/2020 22:40

Bitterly cold today, but yes all are well. Shaped a quick pic earlier and you can see Dot on the far right.
Another cold one tonight but saw them in a huddle on the platform when I came in earlier so looks like they have figured out the best way to keep warm.

OP posts:

HunkyDory69 · 28/11/2020 14:10

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 28/11/2020 14:16

@HunkyDory69

They are looking so different every few days.

Is it when they fledge that you can see which are male & female?

Possibly, sometimes you can get a hint of the male emerald feathers, but with us being so out of season I'm not sure what will happen with a moult.

Think i've mentioned before there is a theory that the stripe along the eye can help sex them, the thicker the stripe is usually a male.

OP posts:

Original poster

AlanThePig · 29/11/2020 12:13

6 weeks old today. Lots of feather plucking going on this morning, and Duncan has been out all the night the dirty stop out.

OP posts:

RandomMess · 29/11/2020 12:31

DH fancies duck for Christmas this year, where did you say you live again....

Soubriquet · 29/11/2020 12:34

@RandomMess

DH fancies duck for Christmas this year, where did you say you live again....

Hush your mouth!!!

Original poster

AlanThePig · 29/11/2020 13:12

Hahaha my cousin joked we were selling them to the local Chinese Takeaway to her DD and she believed her completely and got quite upset.
I cant eat duck, it's a bit too close to home for me now

OP posts:

FawnDrench · 29/11/2020 13:17

My goodness they've grown quickly.
It's a gorgeous photo again - thanks for brightening up my Sunday @AlanThePig

RandomMess · 29/11/2020 13:19

I used to work for the government in animal health and of course some research ends up involving animals - tbf they live amazing lives whilst there. Nothing leaves alive though for safety reasons.

We got merged with another agency and when some ducks got accidentally contaminated due to a fault air containment system the other people were horrified that the ducks were no more, not sure what they thought the colossal incinerator was for...

Cavagirl · 29/11/2020 17:19

They are so big now!! Ah congratulations OP, you've done a sterling job as their fairy duckmother

Original poster

AlanThePig · 29/11/2020 18:14

@RandomMess

I used to work for the government in animal health and of course some research ends up involving animals - tbf they live amazing lives whilst there. Nothing leaves alive though for safety reasons.

Bet that incinerator smelt nice though 😂

OP posts:

RandomMess · 29/11/2020 18:17

Can't smell it tbh!!!

Pre foot and mouth we had free access to all the footpaths and used to go for walks to visit all the stock was really sad when it all changed.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 01/12/2020 20:59

I hope you didn't watch last night's I'm a Celeb, OP, their dinner was duck 😱

Original poster

AlanThePig · 01/12/2020 22:51

@NoGoodPunsLeft

I hope you didn't watch last night's I'm a Celeb, OP, their dinner was duck 😱

Funny you say that. I had a message from DD warning me not to watch and telling me it looked like Egwina. DD was quite traumatised 😂 fortunately I was catching up with His Dark Materials so I missed the spectacle.

OP posts:

RedRosie · 02/12/2020 17:18

@alanthepig Is all well today? I think I'm overinvested in the ducklings.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 02/12/2020 19:39

[quote RedRosie]@alanthepig Is all well today? I think I'm overinvested in the ducklings. [/quote]
All well. Not been out to take pictures today but DH has been summoned for food several times

OP posts:

Original poster

AlanThePig · 03/12/2020 11:10

They did everything but knock this morning 😂

OP posts:

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