Just wanted to let everyone know, that MamaDuck has moved out of GrmaDuck's house, about 20min away. I will still be around very often to keep my role as #1 in the flock, and to help with the responsibilities (especially while we are still dealing with health issues since GrmaDuck and myself - MamaDuck - are the only ones who know how to give medicine.)
Also, Queenie has an appointment with the vet tonight...we are thinking that it's not going to be a great prognosis. She has not laid eggs in quite some time, and is visibly heavy with egg. This may (most likely) require surgery to take care of. Depending on what the Vet says, we are going to have to wiegh our options and see if we can afford that kind of care, plus the added time and responsibility of post-op care. I (MamaDuck) really wants to just do what will make her healthy again...but I also know that it costs money that we may not have. :-\ I've been very worried, but trying not to let it get to me.
Anywho...enough of that. We will update later with what the vet says and our decisions.
~MamaDuck
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Mutiny and Duck Poo
Monday, May 16, 2011
I, GrMaDuck, arrived home after a meeting tonight, to find all our six duckies asleep in their house. If I hadn't needed to give Keelyn medication it would have been just a simple nighty-nighty and close and latch the duck house door for added safety. It was so cute that they put themselves to bed.
:-)
(Remember we have a pretty predator proof pen/aviary, and INSIDE the pen/aviary is a duck house that provides additional protection and weather-proof comfort. After loosing our first two precious feathered family members last year, well we are VERY cautious. Alex and Bianca were only three years old and very healthy. Oh how we loved them and they us. We have no soft spot in our heart for coyote since last year.)
But anyway I digress... They were very sweet duckies this evening, well that is until I woke up everyone to give a very grumpy Keelyn her medication.
~Nighty Night all
GrMaDuck
P.S.
Earlier in the day, MamaDuck, killed a big black snake that was trying to figure out how to get in the aviary. We are so grateful that we added the hardware fabric around the bottom. But the avairy netting that covers the avairy is 2"x2", it might have taken this snake awhile to figure out how to climb to the top, but GrMaDuck is 99.9% sure this is the same snake that climbed up the gutters to get to and eat a nest full of young song birds. (The birds had nested over the flood lights on our house.) The snakes are mostly after small animals and eggs but they will strike at a duck to get to an egg. Thank you MamaDuck for protecting the flock.
:-)
(Remember we have a pretty predator proof pen/aviary, and INSIDE the pen/aviary is a duck house that provides additional protection and weather-proof comfort. After loosing our first two precious feathered family members last year, well we are VERY cautious. Alex and Bianca were only three years old and very healthy. Oh how we loved them and they us. We have no soft spot in our heart for coyote since last year.)
But anyway I digress... They were very sweet duckies this evening, well that is until I woke up everyone to give a very grumpy Keelyn her medication.
~Nighty Night all
GrMaDuck
P.S.
Earlier in the day, MamaDuck, killed a big black snake that was trying to figure out how to get in the aviary. We are so grateful that we added the hardware fabric around the bottom. But the avairy netting that covers the avairy is 2"x2", it might have taken this snake awhile to figure out how to climb to the top, but GrMaDuck is 99.9% sure this is the same snake that climbed up the gutters to get to and eat a nest full of young song birds. (The birds had nested over the flood lights on our house.) The snakes are mostly after small animals and eggs but they will strike at a duck to get to an egg. Thank you MamaDuck for protecting the flock.
all is well
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Keelyn update ... a short video
Keelyn injured her leg, turns out she sprained her knee pretty badly. She can hobble around but she has a hard time balancing and she chooses to sit a lot.
Girl are in the R&R pen during the day.
Everyone goes back in the duck house at night with Keelyn is in the pet carrier.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
*sigh* Came home tonight to see that Keelyn can't walk on her right leg and is using her wings to balance herself. Back to the vet tomorrow for an X ray. For tonight she's in the pet carrier, inside the house, to keep her from trying to stand or walk, but also to keep her with everyone to prevent attitude issues. *stress* *stress* *stress* Trusting God.
We are also watching Queenie closely she is always heavy and not laying much. If she doesn't show improvement Queenie may also be getting a ride to the vet later this week.
We are also watching Queenie closely she is always heavy and not laying much. If she doesn't show improvement Queenie may also be getting a ride to the vet later this week.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Happy Duckies and Curious Drakes
Saturday Morning
Letting the duckies out of the duck house.
Happy Duckies and Curious Drakes
Friday, May 6, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My poor baby girl Keelyn...
Keelyn's been having a rough, rough time lately. Her bumble foot came back, and within a day she had horribly reinjured her eye. The boys have been getting very excited with it being spring (and it's their first mating season, so they are extra agressive and rough when mating), and Kouta tried to mount her backwards and scratched her eyelid right open...*sigh* MamaDuck has been one big worry wart the past week or so.
We got her on another round of Baytril (antibiotics) and Metacam (anti-inflamatory) for her infection, and we also had been trying to keep her eye clean and sanitized with OTC eye ointment. However, despite being on an antibiotic and such, her eye and the side of her face was swelling and was causing her great irritation and discomfort.
So this morning we emailed this picture to our Vet and explained the situation, and then called as soon as they opened and left a voice mail. (We are so blessed to have such a caring and knowledgable Vet.)
He called back and went ahead and got us a perscription ready for some medicated eye ointment.
Got home and immediately put it on her eye, and I am soooo sooo sooo glad to say that she's actually able to keep her eye open, and it's not foaming. We still need to keep up with the Baytril, Metacam, and the eye ointment multiple times a day (for atleast 10 more days, possible another round of Baytril after that...), but I'm just glad we got something that is working and is actually helping.
If you have ducks, it is so important to find a Vet who treats waterfowl (not just exotic birds like parrots or such), most of the time you have to travel a while to get to one, or if you find one they are very expensive. We feel very blessed that we found one very close that is at normal Vetrinarian rates.
The flock got a nice treat and spent almost all day outside in the yard today. GrMa Duck had to do some "work from home" work, so she brought it out on the deck to keep an eye on everyone. MamaDuck also spent some time with them out in the yard. Only once did I have to chase them out of the front yard (they are getting a bit too curious and adventurous for my liking lately). Although it provided a huge amount of entertainment when I hearded them back around the azelea bushes toward the steps (pictured in earlier posts) and every single one of them (except Queenie) took a running start and flew about 6 feet over the ledge of the brick wall next to the steps to land on the ground below. Darrick got a bit startled when big ol' Kouta landed very gracefully right on top of him! Tehehe. I so wish I had the camera out!
Well, coming to a close of a day starting out stressfull and worriesome, only to become relaxing and happy. Going to be giving Keelyn her meds again soon before it starts getting dark.
~MamaDuck
We got her on another round of Baytril (antibiotics) and Metacam (anti-inflamatory) for her infection, and we also had been trying to keep her eye clean and sanitized with OTC eye ointment. However, despite being on an antibiotic and such, her eye and the side of her face was swelling and was causing her great irritation and discomfort.
So this morning we emailed this picture to our Vet and explained the situation, and then called as soon as they opened and left a voice mail. (We are so blessed to have such a caring and knowledgable Vet.)
He called back and went ahead and got us a perscription ready for some medicated eye ointment.
Got home and immediately put it on her eye, and I am soooo sooo sooo glad to say that she's actually able to keep her eye open, and it's not foaming. We still need to keep up with the Baytril, Metacam, and the eye ointment multiple times a day (for atleast 10 more days, possible another round of Baytril after that...), but I'm just glad we got something that is working and is actually helping.
If you have ducks, it is so important to find a Vet who treats waterfowl (not just exotic birds like parrots or such), most of the time you have to travel a while to get to one, or if you find one they are very expensive. We feel very blessed that we found one very close that is at normal Vetrinarian rates.
The flock got a nice treat and spent almost all day outside in the yard today. GrMa Duck had to do some "work from home" work, so she brought it out on the deck to keep an eye on everyone. MamaDuck also spent some time with them out in the yard. Only once did I have to chase them out of the front yard (they are getting a bit too curious and adventurous for my liking lately). Although it provided a huge amount of entertainment when I hearded them back around the azelea bushes toward the steps (pictured in earlier posts) and every single one of them (except Queenie) took a running start and flew about 6 feet over the ledge of the brick wall next to the steps to land on the ground below. Darrick got a bit startled when big ol' Kouta landed very gracefully right on top of him! Tehehe. I so wish I had the camera out!
Well, coming to a close of a day starting out stressfull and worriesome, only to become relaxing and happy. Going to be giving Keelyn her meds again soon before it starts getting dark.
~MamaDuck
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Steps
Monday, April 25, 2011
Apr 25
Saturday, April 23, 2011
our duck aviary
a slide show to show you our duck aviary
with a few notes regarding it's construction
with a few notes regarding it's construction
Friday, April 22, 2011
a short update with lots of pictures
Keelyn: she is doing much better after 2 weeks on the antibiotics. We think the infection is gone. She hasn't shown any signs of her bumble foot for several days.
The boys: We guess it will be awhile before things settle down with less competition. Things are improving and we are keeping close eye on them. Letting things take their course mostly but not allowing injury or repeated abuse that causes depression. Missy and Beau for the most part are a couple, and so are Kouta and Keelyn, although none of then are monogamous.(these are ducks after all) :-)
and now for lots and lots of pictures
You see how we have thing set up for our duckies in our backyard and how close to the woods (40+ acres of woods) we are and why it is so important to have the predator proof duck aviary that we have. You can also see that there is no vegetation (well almost none) left in the enclosure. We are still trying to figure out how to successfully grow ground cover in there without it immediately being eaten all the way. But they do get to forage in the yard under while we keep a close watch over them. We have let the grass go to seed for them in the yard and they are loving it. We currently have the little pool out in the yard too. Okay enough yapping ... now to see our beautiful feather family members...
The boys: We guess it will be awhile before things settle down with less competition. Things are improving and we are keeping close eye on them. Letting things take their course mostly but not allowing injury or repeated abuse that causes depression. Missy and Beau for the most part are a couple, and so are Kouta and Keelyn, although none of then are monogamous.(these are ducks after all) :-)
and now for lots and lots of pictures
You see how we have thing set up for our duckies in our backyard and how close to the woods (40+ acres of woods) we are and why it is so important to have the predator proof duck aviary that we have. You can also see that there is no vegetation (well almost none) left in the enclosure. We are still trying to figure out how to successfully grow ground cover in there without it immediately being eaten all the way. But they do get to forage in the yard under while we keep a close watch over them. We have let the grass go to seed for them in the yard and they are loving it. We currently have the little pool out in the yard too. Okay enough yapping ... now to see our beautiful feather family members...
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
pet ducks and ducklings info and links
BE WISE and THINK FIRST before getting ducks as pets. They are extremely emotional flock animals and are very messy and require lots of attention. Years ago when GrMaDuck said yes to getting two pet ducklings we had NO IDEA what we were getting into!! In Virginia it is illegal to buy just one duckling. (They can get very loney and fail to thrive without love and attention.) Having a minimum of two is good because they will keep each other company, which is especially helpful when they become adults. (at about 16-20 weeks of age). Having pet ducks is A LOT of work. Ducks are very social and need LOTS attention. We quickly did lots of research and we poured our hearts into our adorable feathered family members. Below is the compliation of helpful and/or interesting links that we have complied.
http://mrflapper.com/blog/want-a-pet-duck/
(click on "Want A Pet Duck?" things to think about BEFORE you get ducks)
http://www.metzerfarms.com
http://www.liveducks.com/easter.html
http://www.liveducks.com/care.html
http://backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=38045
http://www.minkhollow.ca/HatchingProgram/Ducks-Incubation/As-Pets.html#care
http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id15.html
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI1189.html
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modpo/e1260001.html
http://www.newagrarian.com/homestead/ducks/index.html
A book many duck owners recommend (and so do we) is
Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks: Breeds, Care, Health by Dave Holderread
I know this seems like LINK OVERLOAD... but I thought I would pass on info that took us soooooo llloooooong to gather.
http://mrflapper.com/blog/want-a-pet-duck/
(click on "Want A Pet Duck?" things to think about BEFORE you get ducks)
http://www.metzerfarms.com
http://www.liveducks.com/easter.html
http://www.liveducks.com/care.html
http://backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=38045
http://www.minkhollow.ca/HatchingProgram/Ducks-Incubation/As-Pets.html#care
http://www.thegoosesmother.com/id15.html
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI1189.html
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modpo/e1260001.html
http://www.newagrarian.com/homestead/ducks/index.html
A book many duck owners recommend (and so do we) is
Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks: Breeds, Care, Health by Dave Holderread
I know this seems like LINK OVERLOAD... but I thought I would pass on info that took us soooooo llloooooong to gather.
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