NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...

[AlanThePig]

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.

Haha no no, Tier 3 here. There is very much a stand off going on with Dunc and Weena on one side of the pond and the Seven on the other.

I don’t blame them!

They get abandoned all the time and left with the nanny, only for them to swan home and just expect food!

The cheek of them

🙂 The Magnificent 7! 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

That is so funny

They're basically duck teenagers now, aren't they? At the stage of having rows differences of opinion with their parents...

😂🦆🦆🦆😂

Thanks for the updates!

Lovely updates, thanks OP.

Love it @Soubriquet

Thank you @AlanThePig for the updates.

@RandomMess

😍

They look almost big enough to be worth eating 😉😂

I am actually a bit concerned at the OPs numerous promises of a Christmas Day photo and that's actually the shock twist where this has all been leading

I'm loving this thread. Just came across it and have read it all in one sitting.

I have raised ducks myself for years. OP, I agree the floating Duck House is too small and next year they need a much bigger one.

Also, your DHs suggestion to get domestic ducks...if you don't want to get the eggs for eating then just get a pair or trio of drakes. They are quiet and don't quack, don't fight over females if there aren't any and can mostly look after themselves. But...a land based duck house that you lock up at night safely is great for laying ducks and their eggs are amazing.

I can recommend some domestic breeds if you like!

🦆

Bendy, if I thought it wouldn't be me running around after them I'd investigate the possibility but it would and I don't want any more work 😊
As for the duck house, I'm yet to find a commercially sold one that would actually work well for a family. They all seem to have small platforms and not big enough accommodation.

I am actually a bit concerned at the OPs numerous promises of a Christmas Day photo and that's actually the shock twist where this has all been leading

Funny you say this. I came to bed an hour ago to curl up and read my book in peace. None of it is sinking in because it's like trying to read in the middle of a shouting match with Donald bloody duck. They will not be quiet. I think they are doing the flight practice at night as I recall being extremely noisy was part of it before. Either way of they don't shut up soon they will be dished up a l'orange.

I didn't make that post clear Bendy, sorry. We're making our own because we can't find anything suitable.

I was considering being extra nice to the local timber yard and see if they might let us have some offcuts a bit cheaper. Can't hurt to ask.

Ducks going free you say...

Whereabouts are you again 😂

@RandomMess

Ducks going free you say...

Whereabouts are you again 😂

Tempting fate perhaps but they seem to have finished yelling at one another.
I’m going to finish my chapter and hope for the best

Place marking!

They are typical teenagers!!

Eating you out of house & home
Attitude towards parents
Being noisy at night time too selfish to care about the neighbours
Pissing off out over the festive period to find fun elsewhere!

😁

Omg 💚💖💛 this thread!

They are indeed disgustingly messy and poopy, OP. And duck houses need cleaning out regularly because of that. But haven't you got that to do anyway?

I agree, the commercial floating duck houses are more ornamental than functional. You'd be best off getting a cheap dog kennel, painting it with marine paint and mounting it on the platform you already built.

@BendyLikeBeckham

They are indeed disgustingly messy and poopy, OP. And duck houses need cleaning out regularly because of that. But haven't you got that to do anyway?

I agree, the commercial floating duck houses are more ornamental than functional. You'd be best off getting a cheap dog kennel, painting it with marine paint and mounting it on the platform you already built.

In my head the new house will be amazing. Current platform is crap wood and was only knocked together as a temporary thing so that needs to come in really. We're going for a much larger hexaganol house on a large, round platform. From that we plan to try and make a smaller round platform which we will tether to the first, and because things look better in threes I want to try and get a small third round in there too.

Nothing to update here today. It's been extremely wet and windy and they have spent most of the day sheltering around the pier. Turns out when we built that it's a bit of a haven for them too. I've spent the afternoon watching Clash of the Titans under a blanket with chocolate and being a kid again so not much has been done today. DH was summoned several times for food today.

Also had another Christmas card with a note thanking us for our work with the pond. Am now slightly paranoid the street are discussing us 😂

So no flight practice tonight then?

@RandomMess

So no flight practice tonight then?

They would have been assisted trying to fly in that last night, blown into the next county 😂

😂