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.

Great update OP lovely photos thanks for sharing them

She’s got you well trained hasn’t she?

You need to give her ramp that end of the pond though

So this morning I sat looking at the duck house thinking it was small, and when they all try and get on it out of the water there wont be the room, that bloody cat was around too this morning. What they need is a dry platform, a floating one, where they are safe!

Raided DH's wood pile behind the shed and with zero DIY skills I made a platform. Headed to B&Q for some polystyrene blocks, dragged the bugger into the water (bloody heavy) AND IT FLOATS!!! DH is at work oblivious to the fact his wood pile has been decimated 😂

Obviously she's viewed this latest addition with extreme caution. I even put a ramp on it. Hopefully she'll figure it out and use it and now I know how to make one I'm going to attempt a duck mansion next spring.

YABextremelyU for putting this into 30 days only when we would all v much like an update on the progress of your brood well beyond that

@MatildaonaWaltzer

YABextremelyU for putting this into 30 days only when we would all v much like an update on the progress of your brood well beyond that

This is true, but my garden is really identifiable if you know it. Rest assured I shall start another thread and update when this one expires. I've worked out they should all bugger off somewhere around Christmas Day. DH asked if we're having duck for lunch this year....

ah, your DH is not the Phil Dunphy I was hoping for (have you seen the episodes of Modern Family with the ducklings? If not, that's tonight sorted for you)

Can you eat them ?

That looks very suitable for a discerning duck! You may have to invest in waders so you can help her and the ducklings on to it via the red carpet it is crying out for. !!

Seriously excellent job!

@Bargebill19

That looks very suitable for a discerning duck! You may have to invest in waders so you can help her and the ducklings on to it via the red carpet it is crying out for. !!

Seriously excellent job!

I do own waders, but I'm very wary of using them 😁. Between where the platform is now and the duck house there is a big drop off in levels and it's about 15ft deep there. I waded around that area over summer when I was re tethering the duck house after it's annual paint and clean, put my foot forward and there was nothing... Did I mention I cant really swim either haha. I was wondering whether to get one of those little plastic dog kennels on there, could furnish that with red carpet 😂

To answer the eating question, I don't know. They are wild mallards, the male at least is active and flies around the area a lot so I imagine he'd be muscular. Personally I cant bring myself to eat duck. I feel terribly guilty.

I shall now go and look for the episode of Modern Family, though adult DS has already questioned whether he can do a 'Joey' and take one home to his bath.

I had a spider in the fireplace the other day and i was delighted! Diversity of experience is a wonderful thing. (but i secretly wish i had garden ducks...)

This is my absolute favourite mn thread ever ❤

This has cheered me right up this morning.

Look at their fluffy little behinds!

My parents had a pair of ducks who kept visiting for several years but they never had ducklings.

They are so lovely and your pond is amazing!

I was getting really annoyed with some of the corona threads, then came across this one and instantly relaxed.

What a lovely thread, and what a lovely person you are, OP!

Thank you for posting this, it's lovely!

Best thread on mumsnet right now

eating duck - these ones are way to small to make it worth it (and I mean the adults not the babies ). Ducks for food are much bigger breeds.

We used to keep ducks, they were muscovys which are nearly as large as a goose. They slept in our duck house, and then waddled off down the drive to the village pond every morning. The village loved them. Each year they would sit, each female could hatch 20 eggs, we often had 2-3 broods. (then they all used to parent)

The rule was that once it had a name it became a pet, the others all went in the freezer. They tasted amazing. (sorry) but were a lot of work to kill, pluck and draw ready to eat.

Morning all. I hurt today. I have hyper mobility joint syndrome and overdid it a bit yesterday with the platform building. Hands and wrists are worst, vibration from the jigsaw most likely. Either way a good excuse to sit, drink tea and watch the babies. Oh, and they still refuse to use the platform 😂

Happy to report all ten present and correct. Would love to name them but it's practically impossible to tell them apart. I had a rough idea with the last lot just before they fledged if they were male or female but not a single one had anything distinguishing.
The only reason I can tell Mum is our Egwina is she's rather portly given how well she's fed and walks with a slight wobble on her left leg.

Duncan was here earlier, he's buggered off again. Seems to do some kind of 9-5 as he'll be home for tea.

Current tactic is throw in a handful of food, photograph and count the number in picture...

🙂♥️

This is such a lovely thread ❤️ Looking forward to more updates!

I also have Hypermobility Syndrome and my hands/wrists would be wrecked after building something like that, so you have my sympathy. I'm sure the ducks will appreciate it though 😊

Duncan was here earlier, he's buggered off again. Seems to do some kind of 9-5 as he'll be home for tea

Bet he’s got another 10 kids else where. The dirty duck! 😂 🦆

Glad they're all OK. Take care of yourself @AlanThePig

Happy to report all ten present and correct. They’ve been out of the water today on the bank running around in circles. Highly amusing. Even dad showed up today.

They now now me or DH = food so as soon as they spot us they come flying over cheeping loudly.

Just to add, now realised there are only nine in that photo. One is super quick and has legged it out of shot