A whole year has passed since we bought our last batch of ducklings.
We added a mixture (17) of Cayugas, Swedish, and Pekins to the pond;
home, then, to the solitary Methuselah (Khaki Campbell drake.)
Every day since the new ducks came,
we go to the pond, put out some feed, and count the ducks.
And until one day late this past winter, we counted 18.
Suddenly....only 17 were there.
Suddenly....only 17 were there.
One had gone missing.
Finding no body, we suspected that perhaps a predator had carried him off.
That is, until the pond thawed and we found #18 under the ice.
Now we suspect that he dove under the water and was trapped beneath the ice.
Sad.
But, the good news is....
no predators have gotten any of the ducks!
(Thank you, Oakley and Sam!)
Every duck count lately has yielded a different number.
Sometimes 14, sometimes 15, sometimes 16...
and then sometimes all 17 are there.
Why the mysterious disappearances?
This is why.....
It seems that some of our gals have taken to sitting on nests of eggs.
This past weekend, we noticed that the far bank of the pond was
strewn with eggs...
as if something had kicked all the eggs out of the nests.
There were 108 eggs.
Can you imagine???
Now, the gals have moved further up the hill, into the woods.
I am not so sure that these gals are the best sitters.
Time will tell.
It would be fun to have a batch of ducklings on the pond.
Some sad news about the new chicks...
Two of my Maran chicks died yesterday.
I have no idea why.
So, I took the rest and moved them into their new quarters.
I sure hope the rest of the gals are healthy.
They seem very tired since the move.
I worry so about these little creatures.
Comments
Is there any reason for your choice in ducks? Just wondering. I haven't decided on all of my choices yet. I'm really leaning towards Muscovy as I mentioned earlier, but not sure what else. The Indian Runners really make me giggle so I'll have to get a few of those.
Cheers,
Jeff