Late Arrivals
Posted: Friday, 15 September 2006 |
I thought that Spring was a time for Ducklings and Chicks but to our suprise one of our mad Ducks took to her bed and through rain and shine sat on a clutch of hen and duck eggs. The thought of any babies from the brood was dismissed and we thought that after a few days the call of the crushed barley would tempt her from her nest, but she sat there through thick and thin, rain and shine, the dog sniffing round her, and me and my size 6 wellies stomping round the enclosure.
Yesterday ( 14th Sept ), I did my tour of the Ducks to feed water and tend to their every need when The aforsaid very defensive duck increased her size to double by puffing up her feathers and hissing incessantly. Amongst the sound of hissing from under the feathers stuck out a yellow head then another. I counted 4 ducklings all squinting from the bright daylight. What a suprise, we had previously had a brood of duckling that alas had all mysteriously dissappeared from the hen house, we gathered either a ferral cat or rat had been involved in thier demise.
Now we have 4 ducklings and a dilemma.
To leave nature to its own devices and hope that the ducklings survive the hungry predators or to face the wrath of Mummy Duck and remove them to a safe place and give them a chance of survival.
Take a look at them and you decide
A footnote for my daughter and all the co workers at the HSBC in Southend on Sea... here is a map of Shapinsay so they know where Abbies MAD mum lives
Yesterday ( 14th Sept ), I did my tour of the Ducks to feed water and tend to their every need when The aforsaid very defensive duck increased her size to double by puffing up her feathers and hissing incessantly. Amongst the sound of hissing from under the feathers stuck out a yellow head then another. I counted 4 ducklings all squinting from the bright daylight. What a suprise, we had previously had a brood of duckling that alas had all mysteriously dissappeared from the hen house, we gathered either a ferral cat or rat had been involved in thier demise.
Now we have 4 ducklings and a dilemma.
To leave nature to its own devices and hope that the ducklings survive the hungry predators or to face the wrath of Mummy Duck and remove them to a safe place and give them a chance of survival.
Take a look at them and you decide
A footnote for my daughter and all the co workers at the HSBC in Southend on Sea... here is a map of Shapinsay so they know where Abbies MAD mum lives
Comments
Fence them off. Down the road: duck a l'orange. Roast Peking Duck. etc. etc. Think of it. Worth the trouble (maybe).
mjc from NM,USA
What happened to the chicken eggs? Not fertile? Time to soup-up the Shapinsay Rocket Rooster.
mjc from NM,USA
WELL! I used to keep hens and sometimes raised chickens - not very successfully but I really enjoyed the experience. Once, my first fiesty brown hen - a bantom - sat on 15 eggs. everyone told me to take some away. I didn't, and ALL 15 hatched. the mother was brilliant and all survived - until one day one of the dogs got into the shed and ate 9 of the 15. that left 6. we persevered and managed to carry on with the raising of the chicks, but another dog ate 3. that left 3. Furious, hurt and dismayed, I put them into the hen house with the other hens - but a pole cat came and ate the mother hen and 2 chicks. SO I was left with ONE chicken after all that - and she lived and died of old age. you should protect the ducklings - they don't stand a chance against the odds!
scallowawife from shetland
I have taken your advice scallowawife and put all ducklings and mum safe in a rodent, cat, dog type pen till they are big enough to fen for themselves.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Hooch the Duck Sitter. That's a new photo addition, is it not? Traumatized for life, those poor duckies will be. You are hilarious, Barebraes.
mjc from NM,USA
Hilarious !! Well thankyou mjc I will take that as a compliment, As for the ducks they enjoy their swim in the family bath each morning, I am determined that they all will survive this time.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Yes, Barebraes, "hilarious" was intended as a friendly compliment. I thought the ducky swim was a once in a lifetime (death defying?) experience. Now I hear it's a daily thing. The things that go on at the Barebraes spa!! Keep us informed.
mjc from NM,USA
I am determined that they all will survive this time. Barebraes from Shapinsay. # So, do I; so do I, Barebraes. And when I hit town we can feast on them all (four, not counting Mama Duck).# How's the Shapinsay Rooster doing? Hopefully it only crows at the break of dawn: that should help your hibernation. I assume he has not yet flavored your neeps and tatties?!
mjc from NM,USA
Scallowawife is just a pure spoilsport! There was me hoping to pop over and visit the nice tassssty wee duckies. After all that 'advice' it hardly seems worth a cat's while. Of course, there is the lovely Lulu to consider..............hmmmmmmm.
Flying Cat from Poots Corner
The ducks are coming along in leaps and bounds and are destined for greater things than mjc's or flying cats dinner. Dont forget you have to get past the duck sitter
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Greater things than FC's dinner??? Surely a termin-ological inexactitude.
Flying Cat from terminologically challenged
Leaps and bounds, eh? Some duckies, they must be! No waddling about for those who breathe Shapinsay fresh air. # About FC, if he were to meet the four legged French Force de Frappe, I expect him to be terminated.
mjc from NM,USA
The French Force de Frappe sounds like a posh coffee from Starbucks. Hooch is more like latte on prozac. Terminated ? A wet nose pointed directly in the region of the glutimus maximus is his normal greeting for strange cats. He doesn't like their pointy ends.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Hooch on ice? Mmmmm tasty.
Flying Cat from balanced on a cocktail shaker
We moved here in September 05 and have met many good friends. What more could you want from life.
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