Re: Ducklings [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3806.msg50924#msg50924 date=1391071275] Duckling news - lovely. I read that 3 times, with interest. So lovely to feel involved with a bunch of cute ducklings on the other side of the world. Does Harri have a particular friend? [/quote] It's great, isn't it? OH looks at me strangely when I start trying to tell him how the ducklings are getting on, but the girls ask for updates. Clare
Re: Ducklings Harri tends to be with Meri and Woodget, but Meri and Woodget are more often together by themselves. Actually, mostly all the ducklings are together in one group, but if they split up then it's usually how I've mentioned. Harri is mostly in the water. She's also the one most likely to call out at departing humans (they like seeing humans they know approach and do not like the reverse). Harri's quack has come along very quickly. She's gone from a certain huskiness to a clear quack within days. Apart from Temeraire, none of the others are reliably quacking yet. They are all different though - they start to talk at different ages, like kids. They are not even 5 weeks old yet and usually you don't get voice changes till after that, anywhere from up to 8 weeks. I'm not convinced that any are boys yet, though Ariel is the most likely candidate. Meri has quite a husky (girly) voice too, but not much of a 'quack' yet. Christopher is still kind of husky/squeaky and has sort of stalled at that stage. Fairly willing to bet that Woodget is female but don't quote me on that yet! Still early days.
Re: Ducklings [quote author=bbrown link=topic=3806.msg50919#msg50919 date=1391070618] That's cos they're cooooooool 8) [/quote] Exactly!!!! 8)
Re: Ducklings Well, they do have a certain 'hatched in a nest, raised by a chicken' credibility. Happy to report that Woodget has found a little quack and is therefore a girl. Just waiting on Ariel now. Really can't call it either way there yet. And I haven't forgotten Meri and Woodget's profiles
Re: Ducklings It's hot (again) today and everyone is having an afternoon snooze. Here's Ariel in the tub, Temeraire and Christopher on the step (Temeraire closest to camera), and Woodget, Meriwether and Harrison on the floor. Here they all are a bit later having a play in the water. Outside the pool are Christopher (at the back), Meriwether, Harrison and Woodget. In the pool are Ariel and Temeraire.
Re: Ducklings Ah, Ducklings in a shady spot, dabbling in the water lovely. Icy howling wind and rain here - again.
Re: Ducklings Well, here are some warm and dry (mostly) ducklings to take the edge of the chill off The duckings had their first excursion out of their pen today - into the backyard. At first, it was scary and no-one wanted to be the first to go out into the big world. A few peas thrown on the ground provided reassurance that good things can still happen outside the fence. Meriwether was first , followed by Woodget. Venturing a bit further... There was excitement when it was discovered that the concrete slab (soon to be supporting our new carport) grew peas! That is Christopher in the foreground, running for a pea. This is a 2 minute vid of them running round on the concrete slab, catching peas. The slapping of their feet is hilarious. http://www.flickr.com/photos/93962102@N05/12247537495/
Re: Ducklings Aw, that vid is just lovely. Peas for ducks must be like sea biscuits for puppies! They all look very happy, and healthy and very well looked after. (You will make sure Harri gets her fair share of peas, won't you? She did get a bit jostled out of the way there...)
Re: Ducklings Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for Harri The bit where they get separated and some of them go back in the pen - you can hear a duckling quacking then and it's Harri. The one quacking as they run about the concrete is Temeraire.
Re: Ducklings 40 seconds into the vid, when Meri does her two-footed hop up onto the concrete slab! Aw, love her! They are just gorgeous. How's the monthly pea bill looking? Clare
Re: Ducklings Meri is an excellent jumper! She can jump much higher than that, two-footed. We go through a lot of peas! To think about it seriously.....we would spend about $30 per week on peas and greens (lettuce, bok choy, spinach) for the ducks. About £20. That's for 11 adult birds and the 6 ducklings. Plus they get their normal duck food which is about $1 (70 pence) per week per duck. So about £32 per week to feed all the ducks we have at the moment.
Re: Ducklings Oh they are just lovely ,they don't half move fast to get after those peas! Had a little lump in my throat seeing them make their way out Into to the big world for the first time x
Re: Ducklings [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=3806.msg51447#msg51447 date=1391262198] For some reason, I am not able to see your videos Rachael *sigh* [/quote] What kind of device are you using, Jac? Are you able to see YouTube vids? I can put them on YouTube instead if that would be viewable
Re: Ducklings Aha! Just tried again and I saw them! I am on a laptop, using Firefox, and have no idea why sometimes it doesn't work as I have a Flickr account too. (tried them all for videos and find them all so slow. Have decided YouTube is probably best for me, but don't change, it must just be me who has gremlins : )
Re: Ducklings [quote author=charlie link=topic=3806.msg51477#msg51477 date=1391266403] I love those little ducks, especially the Black one, just gorgeous xx [/quote] That's Meri! They are all gorgeous, but some ducklings are more gorgeous than others... : Clare
Re: Ducklings LOL. Meri is cute. And the bravest. I'm starting to work on having them eat out of my hand, beginning with lettuce (which they can grab without having to get too close). Meri is already an expert at this. Woodget is the next best. They might be the smallest, but they are the most adventurous.
