Page 35 | NOT what I expected to wake up to this morning...

AlanThePig · 2020-10-18T14:12:06+00:00

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.

Cavagirl · 10/03/2021 13:21

Hooray! Very well deserved

Easterbunnygettingready · 10/03/2021 13:38

Quacking decision!!

LadyEloise · 10/03/2021 13:52

Yay !!!

Soubriquet · 10/03/2021 13:55

Awww imagine if you get both ducklings and goslings

Original poster

AlanThePig · 10/03/2021 14:11

@Soubriquet

Awww imagine if you get both ducklings and goslings

Imagine the bill! Cost me £32 yesterday for food again 😂

I have noticed the geese checking out Duck Island and DH did comment the platform is probably large enough to nest on. I'm not worried.....honest.....

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Soubriquet · 10/03/2021 14:15

You must build a grand goose gallery so they have their own little palace

TheSilveryPussycat · 10/03/2021 16:16

I wonder how many lurkers are reading this thread. Perhaps you could crowdfund to pay for duck food...

Original poster

AlanThePig · 10/03/2021 16:20

@TheSilveryPussycat

I wonder how many lurkers are reading this thread. Perhaps you could crowdfund to pay for duck food...

Haha no no, they are another 'pet' to feed really, same as the wild bird food. I do joke they cost more than the dog, but at this time of year a 20kg bag will probably last 2 months, especially if it's only Duncan and Egwina. If we have ducklings we can expect 20kg to last around 3 weeks if its anything like the last couple of times. To be honest, the enjoyment we get from them is well worth the cost of a bit of duck food and it's something we can afford so all good thankfully 😁

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ShagMeRiggins · 11/03/2021 12:39

Well, I’m one of the lurkers who’s just been shown this thread (thanks Ninkanink) and am thoroughly delighted with it.

However, I can’t believe that everyone is so engrossed in the ducks and geese and pond saga that absolutely no one commented on the photo OP posted 8 Feb of the new hutch thingy that appeared to have a cardboard cut out Jessica Rabbit in the background. As one does.

Between that and the skeleton man shown previously, I’m guess you and your husband would make great neighbours.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 11/03/2021 15:01

@ShagMeRiggins

Well, I’m one of the lurkers who’s just been shown this thread (thanks Ninkanink) and am thoroughly delighted with it.

However, I can’t believe that everyone is so engrossed in the ducks and geese and pond saga that absolutely no one commented on the photo OP posted 8 Feb of the new hutch thingy that appeared to have a cardboard cut out Jessica Rabbit in the background. As one does.

Between that and the skeleton man shown previously, I’m guess you and your husband would make great neighbours.

Oh, she's not cardboard, she's all Rabbit.... She's actually taller than me. It's a cast piece thats about 5ft 8" in height. One of those random purchases 😂
The Roger with her is actually really really rare (so probably shouldn't be in a kitchen, oops). He is also full size (5ft to the tips of his ears) and he was only sold on Disney Parks in the USA for 2 years. As you can imagine the amount of people daft enough to fly a 5ft rabbit home is vanishingly small so he's a bit of a rarity here. We have a Star Wars room as well. If you look carefully at the dining room window from the street there is a full size C3PO watching you.

Anyway, ducks.
We had that huge storm last night and little new duck house lost it's roof. Fortunately it didn't sink and even more fortunately it floated to the side close enough that I could hook it with a brush. Managed to nail it back on but the commotion has scared off the residents for now. Sure they will be back come tea time though.

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

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ShagMeRiggins · 11/03/2021 22:39

Oh, she's not cardboard, she's all Rabbit.... She's actually taller than me. It's a cast piece thats about dining room window from the street there is a full size C3PO watching you.

Seriously, if ever you’re in East Anglia, please consider yourselves invited to dinner at mine. Fondue, I think.

RandomMess · 11/03/2021 23:22

One of our neighbours has R2D2 in his garage, haven't managed to acquire him yet though...

Original poster

AlanThePig · 12/03/2021 09:45

R2 you say......

Geese appear to have learned that DH will feed the ducks when he gets up. Geese now loudly arrive around 6am. They have breakfast at 8 then bugger off again. I am unimpressed with their honkings to say the least.

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Soubriquet · 12/03/2021 09:58

Your husband is really fowl whipped isn’t he?

Original poster

AlanThePig · 12/03/2021 10:14

@Soubriquet

Your husband is really fowl whipped isn’t he?

He just told me he went out this morning to feed Egwina and the goose was outside the door hissing. He says they stood there for a moment having a bit of a face off. It was chucking it down so he went back in for a coat. He now thinks the neighbours were watching him have this fight with a goose and then saw him go back inside and assume goose had won 😂

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Soubriquet · 12/03/2021 10:19

Oh I love it!

I’ll never forget the time I was walking my nans sheepdog. She was terrible for chasing ducks and geese but this time she chased after one that had goslings

I have never seen a dog turn round and run away so quick

Original poster

AlanThePig · 12/03/2021 10:28

@Soubriquet

Oh I love it!

I’ll never forget the time I was walking my nans sheepdog. She was terrible for chasing ducks and geese but this time she chased after one that had goslings

I have never seen a dog turn round and run away so quick

Brilliant. My grandparents had a farm when I was small. I don’t recall it at all sadly, but my Dad used to tell me Grandad had a pure white goose which used to stalk the gate. The postman was chased off by it so frequently he delivered everything to the next property up and refused to come on to grandads farm.

I’m really torn because on the one hand they are beautiful creatures but on the other they are starting to get rather stroppy and as you say of goslings come along they could get REALLY stroppy.

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Soubriquet · 12/03/2021 10:30

Oh they are extremely protective of their young

They make excellent guard dogs though I will give them that.

Hopefully, you’ll have a good association with them so when they see you they don’t think “fight” they just think “food”

RandomMess · 12/03/2021 10:31

I do want to come for a visit!!!!

TheChampagneGalop · 12/03/2021 14:39

Congratulations for the Classics move and for getting your ducks AND Geese in a row.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 14/03/2021 20:11

@RandomMess

I do want to come for a visit!!!!

Me too, what more could you want? Wildfowl, a pond & movie memorabilia

Original poster

AlanThePig · 14/03/2021 23:10

Aww you’re all welcome lol. We actually moved here not just for the pond but because our collection of useless crap outgrew the old house. We are huge Star Wars nuts and we’re both 501st at one point. Before the world went to shit we did a lot of costume events for charity. It was always great fun and I made a lot of lovely friends. Not sure after lockdown I’d get my thighs in PVC anymore but that’s probably another very different thread 😂

Anyway, I was supposedly having a lie in this morning. 6am two geese arrived loudly. 7am two more turned up. Lots of honking and flapping.
9am and I’m in that lovely light sleep when I’m woken by more flapping and splashing and DH yelling “oi! Stoppit! Oi” I then hear him shaking the food tub and that’s followed by a bit more shouting.

Looked out of the window and Duncan was actually trying to murder a rival. DH said he thought he was going to have to fish out a dead duck because Dunc was holding the poor thing underwater and wouldn’t let it up for ages , hence the yelling from DH.
Happily he did eventually let go and the rival flew off pretty quick.

Haven’t seen Egwina all day though since her morning feed. Have a feeling she might be in the house, in which case she’s on eggs. I need to try and get a better look tomorrow.

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Knotaknitter · 15/03/2021 09:33

We had a local stroppy goose who made the papers and was the subject of a police visit. It wasn't me that turned him in but he bruised my leg through jeans after he grabbed me. He'd had a go at several walkers and someone finally complained. My crime was walking down the road past the farm gate. The gate was shut, goose proofed and he had to hiss at passers by from behind bars.

Original poster

AlanThePig · 15/03/2021 12:05

@Knotaknitter

We had a local stroppy goose who made the papers and was the subject of a police visit. It wasn't me that turned him in but he bruised my leg through jeans after he grabbed me. He'd had a go at several walkers and someone finally complained. My crime was walking down the road past the farm gate. The gate was shut, goose proofed and he had to hiss at passers by from behind bars.

Its the territorial behaviour that worries me with them (that and the poo!) Its a long drive to walk up and I can envisage an angry goose chasing people up and down it. I know they can give a pretty nasty bite.

They aren't here today so I'm reasonably happy they are just visiting again and not intending on moving in. Hopefully....

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VexedofVirginiaWater · 23/03/2021 15:41

This story reminded me of you OP

www.aol.co.uk/living/pesky-swan-enjoys-knocking-on-doors-with-his-beak-112946003.html