They are so cute are they not? We've had many this year as well and they are still coming. They are so good at keeping the tick population at bay and duck eggs are so yummy. Great in cheesecake. Lets hear it for ducks!!!
Except she retreated to the woods after they got something to eat. I would have opened the gate to see if she wanted to bring them in, but all the goats and chickens followed me down there (or rather they followed the cup of scratch) and I didn't want to let them all into the woods! I hope they're okay down there.
A determined mother is a true wonder! They are lovely and we have found the poultry here has a good handle on the bugs. Well relatively good, they don't eat fireflies at all which I am glad of. Are these Muscovey's for the table or for mothering and bug control?
Ducks are so cute! This has not been a good year for anything to hatch around here! We do have four newly hatched guineas, but something killed six of our adult guineas in just a few days. Congratulations!
Yay! A determined mom is a wondrous thing. One of my teenage Muscovies managed to hatch out 25 this spring. She lost most of them to various problems (none of them her fault), but still has 10 that she is doing a great job with. I have one out of the pen right now on a nest of 15 eggs, so we'll see how many she raises. Love my Muscovies!
Thanks! We're concerned about things she won't be able to manage, like possums or raccoons. But they can be difficult to round up and even more difficult to catch.
Eggs, bug control, and meat. It seems to me that we've had much less flies this summer than before. At least one of them can catch them in the air! It's interesting that even the littlest ones instinctively go for the bugs.
It's always heartbreaking to lose critters. I used to love my guineas, gave about half a dozen away because they wouldn't stay put, and lost the two we kept. They just disappeared and we never did figure out what happened to them.
Saw a mamma mallard & her babies heading to the pond today...so cute. Saw lots of ducklings at Disney, one clutch all in a ball/nest (no actual nest though). so cute! Maybe I need some of those bug catchers here...every time it rains the mosquitoes come.
Good to see an update on the ducks, with addition instead of subtraction. I wonder how the hen raised ducklings will merge with the others over time?
I suspect you might have an easier time rounding up the hen raised ones, when they're older. As they will see the poultry yard as home. Although, I've learned not to underestimate animal instincts before, either. ;)
None of the ducks will let us get too near. The mamas won't let anything get to near! I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how tame they become. I'm sure they'll be hard to catch either way.
42 comments:
They are so cute are they not? We've had many this year as well and they are still coming. They are so good at keeping the tick population at bay and duck eggs are so yummy. Great in cheesecake. Lets hear it for ducks!!!
You have a duckling explosion going on!
what a lovely surprise to have :-)
What a great thing to find!
What a nice surprise! And I'm glad they are now "out of the woods"! :)
They are indeed super bug catchers and I'm glad to know ticks are on their list!
We have one more on a nest in the chicken coop, but Dan is beginning to think her eggs are duds. Trouble is, we aren't sure when she started to set.
I had no idea she had a nest!
So cute. :)
Except she retreated to the woods after they got something to eat. I would have opened the gate to see if she wanted to bring them in, but all the goats and chickens followed me down there (or rather they followed the cup of scratch) and I didn't want to let them all into the woods! I hope they're okay down there.
Oh you lucky duck. All those bitty bug catchers, all that cuteness, all's well that ends well. I'm sure Mama duck will keep them safe. Congrats!
A determined mother is a true wonder! They are lovely and we have found the poultry here has a good handle on the bugs. Well relatively good, they don't eat fireflies at all which I am glad of. Are these Muscovey's for the table or for mothering and bug control?
So darn cute. Glad they are safe.
They are so cute. 7 ... wow!
Haha!
Did you even know she was missing or maybe figured 'predator chow' again?
Sneaky birds.
Ducks are so cute! This has not been a good year for anything to hatch around here! We do have four newly hatched guineas, but something killed six of our adult guineas in just a few days. Congratulations!
Yay! A determined mom is a wondrous thing. One of my teenage Muscovies managed to hatch out 25 this spring. She lost most of them to various problems (none of them her fault), but still has 10 that she is doing a great job with. I have one out of the pen right now on a nest of 15 eggs, so we'll see how many she raises. Love my Muscovies!
Beautiful :) They have such nice blue beaks, is that normal for chicks?
WOW! That is surely unexpected! Go Ducky, Go Ducky!
Thanks! We're concerned about things she won't be able to manage, like possums or raccoons. But they can be difficult to round up and even more difficult to catch.
Eggs, bug control, and meat. It seems to me that we've had much less flies this summer than before. At least one of them can catch them in the air! It's interesting that even the littlest ones instinctively go for the bugs.
Thanks Deb. Me too.
We have one other on a nest in the hen house. Still waiting on that brood. :)
They are sneaky! I honestly thought we'd lost one somewhere along the line, but instead we've multiplied. :)
It's always heartbreaking to lose critters. I used to love my guineas, gave about half a dozen away because they wouldn't stay put, and lost the two we kept. They just disappeared and we never did figure out what happened to them.
25! Wow, that's a lot of eggs to keep warm. It's sad to lose them but it sounds like your Muscovies are beating the odds anyway.
Good question Rain. This is only the 2nd batch of Muscovy ducklings we've had, so I don't know if it's typical. But it's what we've got!
One smart cookie, that's for sure. :)
Saw a mamma mallard & her babies heading to the pond today...so cute. Saw lots of ducklings at Disney, one clutch all in a ball/nest (no actual nest though). so cute! Maybe I need some of those bug catchers here...every time it rains the mosquitoes come.
Oh, my! Those little ducklings sure are adorable! Nancy
Ah those little blue bills are so cute! Good for you feeding them :)
Leigh,
A beautiful find!!!! Enjoy all your adorable duck :-)
yippee for ducklings!
Haha!! Another aspect of 'chicken(poultry) math'!
Good to see an update on the ducks, with addition instead of subtraction. I wonder how the hen raised ducklings will merge with the others over time?
I suspect you might have an easier time rounding up the hen raised ones, when they're older. As they will see the poultry yard as home. Although, I've learned not to underestimate animal instincts before, either. ;)
I have to say that we don't seem to have many flies this summer and I think it's thanks to the ducks. :)
I think so too!
We do feed them and it's amazing to watch them hunt their own food. Even the littlest ones instinctively chase bugs!
They are a treat to watch. :)
And one more setting duck to go!
None of the ducks will let us get too near. The mamas won't let anything get to near! I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how tame they become. I'm sure they'll be hard to catch either way.
Congrats!!! As they say ... "Make way for ducklings!"
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