My Brother has ten new ducklings. They were a week old this Thursday past.

It is obvious that Darlene is blind. So far she is not being picked on my any of the others, but she will have to be watched closely, to make sure that bullying doesn't develop, and hopefully she will develop a relationship with a few that will stand by her, and defend her.

Anyway. If she is not able to manage on her own, then she will get a home of her own with the other misfits.

I'll get pics of Darlene tomorrow. She is an Appleyard by the way.


https://domesticanimalbreeds.com/appleya...d-to-know/

Kdog says I can have a blind baby duck but only if I do all the cleaning up. Not so sure a duck would make a good apartment pet, especially with all the carpet- but it sure would make bath time fun! 

(06-20-2022, 03:31 AM)GeauxHomeLittleD Wrote: Kdog says I can have a blind baby duck but only if I do all the cleaning up. Not so sure a duck would make a good apartment pet, especially with all the carpet- but it sure would make bath time fun! 

Ducks are messy.

My Brother is making a special run for her, to keep her safe. I just hope she stays healthy and happy.

I will get pictures tomorrow. She tries so hard, and the others seem to give her space and are tolerant of her antics, for now.

Because she can't see, she gets into the food and water. And true to her Appleyard nature, she can be noisy, when she wants to be.

I love ducks! I don’t have any here because my hubby doesn’t like the idea because...well I’m not exactly sure the reason but I think it’s because he’s mean to me. When we walk by the ducklings when they have them at the farm store he just says no before I can even say anything. 

Looking forward to updates. I hope Darlene does well and is able to thrive despite her condition.

(06-20-2022, 05:07 PM)VioletDove Wrote: I love ducks! I don’t have any here because my hubby doesn’t like the idea because...well I’m not exactly sure the reason but I think it’s because he’s mean to me. When we walk by the ducklings when they have them at the farm store he just says no before I can even say anything. 

Looking forward to updates. I hope Darlene does well and is able to thrive despite her condition.

I am praying for her to make it also. She is a little doofus right now. I am not sure if she is a little off, if it is just her personality, or if she is trying to compensate and learn her way.

I am reading everything I can find on how to raise a blind duck, so far everything has been encouraging.

Thanks for your support.

My Brother says Darlene is perking up and acting more normal.

Was going to get pics, but I got a call out so I did not have time to get them.

Tomorrow was supposed to be my free day, but it has turned into a crazy full day, so I might not get pics. Will try anyway though.

Still out, just taking a short break waiting for the detective. Tomorrow may end up being even longer than I expected.

I love ducks.  A more innocent, funny, more sociable and goofy little creature is hard to imagine.

We raised geese for a while, and they were fun (I thought), but they can be a PITA also.  They can get big and ornery, and very protective.  I never had a problem with our geese, but a lot of other people did.  Unfortunately, we could never raise ducks here.  They'd just be "snacks" for the coyotes and owls in the first week.  Ultimately it was the coyotes, hawks and owls which made even chickens and geese not worth it to raise anymore either.  The predators were just a constant daily pressure, always lurking somewhere day and night, on the ground and from the sky.  Unless you kept them tightly penned up where they could never run around free, and stayed right with them every second they were out they were goners.

(06-21-2022, 03:54 PM)FlyingClayDisk Wrote: I love ducks.  A more innocent, funny, more sociable and goofy little creature is hard to imagine.

We raised geese for a while, and they were fun (I thought), but they can be a PITA also.  They can get big and ornery, and very protective.  I never had a problem with our geese, but a lot of other people did.  Unfortunately, we could never raise ducks here.  They'd just be "snacks" for the coyotes and owls in the first week.  Ultimately it was the coyotes, hawks and owls which made even chickens and geese not worth it to raise anymore either.  The predators were just a constant daily pressure, always lurking somewhere day and night, on the ground and from the sky.  Unless you kept them tightly penned up where they could never run around free, and stayed right with them every second they were out they were goners.

Rocky is the old man of the yard 

Rocky is a great protector but he is old as dirt. My Brother is going to be in a world of hurt when he goes, which is likely to be soon because Rocky is almost 20 years old.

He keeps saying he does not have the time to train another barnyard dog. 

I told him to get a donkey. At least they will take care of the coyotes.

He has a hen yard which is huge. Keeps the big animals at bay, and makes it easy for Rocky to manage. Does not do much with hawks and eagles. But I have a pond near by and they seem to have more interest is the fish most of the time.

Knock on wood. So far not much problem in that category for now.

(06-21-2022, 04:45 PM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote: Rocky is the old man of the yard 

Rocky is a great protector but he is old as dirt. My Brother is going to be in a world of hurt when he goes, which is likely to be soon because Rocky is almost 20 years old.

He keeps saying he does not have the time to train another barnyard dog. 

I told him to get a donkey. At least they will take care of the coyotes.

He has a hen yard which is huge. Keeps the big animals at bay, and makes it easy for Rocky to manage. Does not do much with hawks and eagles. But I have a pond near by and they seem to have more interest is the fish most of the time.

Knock on wood. So far not much problem in that category for now.

They say llamas work also, but llamas are just mean bastages from nose to tail...and this coming from a cattleman (who's used to working with some 'waspy' critters from time to time). 

I reckon' me an' llamas wouldn't get on very well.  <wondering if llama meat is any good?  Thinkin' prolly not.>

How is she doing?

I love my ducks, but to be honest, hate the males.  So aggressive when mating, and will even try to mate my chickens!!!  Which can kill them.

I'm down to one male, and 5 females, we gave the other males away, and my hubby still wants to off the male I have.  Probably because I have a favorite female, that will actually turn her head and listen to me, when I talk to her, and eat out of my hand.  And of course, she seems to be the one he harasses the most.

I really hope Darlene is doing well!

(06-23-2022, 10:44 PM)Chiefsmom Wrote: How is she doing?

I love my ducks, but to be honest, hate the males.  So aggressive when mating, and will even try to mate my chickens!!!  Which can kill them.

I'm down to one male, and 5 females, we gave the other males away, and my hubby still wants to off the male I have.  Probably because I have a favorite female, that will actually turn her head and listen to me, when I talk to her, and eat out of my hand.  And of course, she seems to be the one he harasses the most.

I really hope Darlene is doing well!

Darlene is doing great!

My Brother told me that time will tell but he thinks Darlene may be Daryl.





They all eat out of my hand, and recognize you, and come begging.

I think they know a sucker when they see one.

Well, if it hits six months, and gets a curly feather on its butt, its a boy.  I really hope not, just because of my own prejudice against boy ducks.

But glad its doing well.


So much cuteness!   God I love baby ducks!

(06-24-2022, 01:19 AM)Chiefsmom Wrote: Well, if it hits six months, and gets a curly feather on its butt, its a boy.  I really hope not, just because of my own prejudice against boy ducks.

But glad its doing well.


So much cuteness!   God I love baby ducks!

I am hoping he is wrong also. I am not looking for a Daryl either.  

Your companion in your avatar, looks so much like my Goliath. Right down to the expression on his face.