|
Post by willowsmum on May 17, 2022 15:35:21 GMT
I don't want to jinx it but......our 2022 ducklings have arrived!! Our clever little mallard mum hatched a brood of 9 ducklings three weeks ago. Unfortunately she lost 2 in the first few days (one to a predator and the second to unknown causes) but I'm happy to report that the remaining 7 are thriving and getting bigger by the day. These pics show how much they have grown in the first two weeks. As usual there's very little work being done in the house and lots of feeding, watching the little ones and trying to keep five amorous drakes at bay. They're all wild so we can't pen them in at night but there are now 5 islands on the pond for them and lots of other safe spots to hide in. The ducklings can't fly/don't become independent until they are 50-60 days old so these first few weeks are a bit stressful - there's a lot of counting heads first thing in the morning and each time they come to the kitchen door to be fed (which seems to be hourly at the minute!) We also have a second mum sitting on a clutch of eggs which I'm guessing will hatch in the next week or so. Watch this space! Ducklings at 1 day old; Ducklings at 2 weeks old; One of a pair of pretty little Stock Doves which have started to visit the garden, probably due to all of the duck food available;
|
|
|
Post by criswell on May 17, 2022 16:22:03 GMT
They are so cute, and they're getting such a great start to their lives with you feeding them and looking out for them. It's brilliant that they come up to the kitchen door!
|
|
|
Post by Loz on May 17, 2022 17:05:00 GMT
I wonder if I can get the sparrows to come up to my kitchen door? Wonderful post, willowsmum, thank you for this!
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on May 17, 2022 18:26:43 GMT
I find it so hard to tell the ducks apart and we have a lot of comings and goings but I suspect from the way in which mum has always stomped up to the door that she's one of the grown up babies from last year. She is certainly teaching her brood that any time you are hungry this is what you do. The drakes follow suit but I make them wait until the ducklings and mum have had breakfast as they are still a bit mean, chasing her when they feel frisky (I think it's a back-up plan in case she loses this family). I was late getting up the other day and when I got to the kitchen door (which is glass panel to floor level) the drakes had hopped up the 6 stone steps to the door and were peering in expectantly - they can see the seed bucket through the door A little delay in meals won't harm them, the ducklings are probably fed about 8-10 times a day at the moment. They do the same 'stocking up on food before bedtime' as the buds
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on May 17, 2022 18:28:58 GMT
I wonder if I can get the sparrows to come up to my kitchen door? Wonderful post, willowsmum , thank you for this! Go for it with your sparrows loz. My sister has a robin which will take mealworms from her hand this year. When she wasn't quick enough with the food last week he landed on her head
|
|
|
Post by suesbird on May 17, 2022 19:22:49 GMT
I would love this. My friend has two that come everyday for their food.
|
|
|
Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 17, 2022 20:26:42 GMT
This is so cute! I have no wild birds that I've adopted. I do have a hawk and an owl who hang out behind my house so I'd be fearful for any little ones growing up near me.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on May 18, 2022 0:37:27 GMT
Wonderful news, willowsmum, and fingers crossed for all your ducky family. It is always lovely to have wildlife trusting us enough to set up house close by. đ
|
|
|
Post by ariella on May 18, 2022 6:47:29 GMT
Cuteness overload willowsmum! They are just adorable. Hope that the next clutch will successfully hatch and no more predator attacks. We have a river that runs through our little town and the houses backing onto it have all set up duck houses in the their gardens, all with fancy names like Duckingham Palace, and a sign telling drivers to âSlow the Duck Downâ.
|
|
|
Post by criswell on May 18, 2022 7:24:47 GMT
It's lovely that people welcome the ducks ariella with such cute houses. Lovely gardens too. willowsmum do any ducks come into the kitchen when you have to door open?
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on May 18, 2022 8:20:14 GMT
Thanks guys. I have some sad news though - I knew I would jinx it. We fed everyone at 9pm last night, it got dark early and was very wet an windy and unfortunately they must have been attacked overnight as this morning she only has 2 ducklings remaining . I suspect a fox attack. 4 ducklings are missing and the little body of the 5th was in the middle of the pond. I think if it had been otters (which we have seen pass through the pond very occasionally) they would have taken that poor one too but maybe he made it away from the fox and onto the water before he died. There are so many safe places for them to be but you can't force them into anything unless we start caging them at night and I think that would just be too stressful for wild birds. Our floating island has a house similar to your pic @ariellia (they are lovely btw) and the other larger islands are heavily planted with willow and ground cover, so much so that the second female who has nested on one is virtually invisible. The pond banks are quite steep and again lots of ground cover although she did often brood them on the bank overnight which would have left her vulnerable. It's so sad and I'm sorry to have started the thread only to have to announce that disaster struck so quickly - this is why I didn't post about them last year. I suspect she may feed and rest for the day before moving on to somewhere else this evening - as happened a few years ago. I'll let you know what happens. criswell I suspect they would come in if they could but we can't leave the kitchen door open at all. We back onto fields and have a lot of field mice and voles etc running around. In fact one of the field mice is currently living under the kitchen steps (easy access to the duck food) and he would be in like a shot if the door was open. Sorry again for the sad news guys
|
|
|
Post by Loz on May 18, 2022 8:45:35 GMT
So sorry for your troubles willowsmum. I understand the joy and sadness such closeness to wildlife brings. I hope your duck mum and remaining family recover and get themselves safe.
|
|
|
Post by suesbird on May 18, 2022 8:48:21 GMT
What a shame. xx
|
|
|
Post by willowsmum on May 18, 2022 8:57:59 GMT
Thanks guys. I feel privileged but it's so brutal sometimes
|
|
|
Post by ariella on May 18, 2022 9:10:05 GMT
That is so sad willowsmum. You didnât jinx it though. Itâs just nature. I hope the other clutch of eggs are safe and will hatch soon. Weâre semi-rural and have had mice coming into the garage and going into one of hubbyâs drawers he keeps his microfibres cloths and chamois in. The humane mouse trap has worked a couple of times but I think theyâre wise to it now, so I filled some little organza bags with cloves, peppercorns, peppermint oil and something else I canât think of off the top of my head. They loathe the smell and so far, so good.
|
|