Boy and girl, boy named Dash, girl named Daisy. They got their little bills crossed. I love them so much.

Sorry I just gotta vent a bit here. I started keeping ducks probably 5 years ago. I Definitely have learned a lot since I began. First Drake I had was named quackers, and he was partnered with my lady Oats. Quackers temperament honestly gave me the illusion that all other male ducks would be similar to him. He was very protective of Oats. They were cooped up in a large pen that was shared with chickens and geese. He never bothered my chickens. And the ducks seemed to have bonded with my geese very well. Oats had some ducklings and it was really nice to see them following her and quackers everywhere.

Unfortunately I found out when it was too late that the layout of my coop at the bottom of a steep hill made it accessible for a coyote to jump over the fence and snatch Quackers. I didn't see it happen, but it was in the middle of winter so I was able to follow the tracks and blood to find his remains. I could imagine him putting himself between the coyote and Oats to protect her. Was my first loss of a duck so it was very upsetting at the time.

Ever since Quackers I've had tried with numerous other drakes and it opened my eyes to how the majority of males are just huge assholes. I'm in a new place with a larger space for them to roam with 5 female ducks, 1 drake, 2 geese, 2 chickens and 1 rooster.

This drake is the worst one I've had yet. Had my duck hatch one duckling last spring, fortunately I was wise enough to create fencing around her nest beforehand because once the duckling hatched he was constantly over there trying to kill her. He picks fights with my rooster and hens but it's a large enough space they can get out of the way. He has his own 5 girls and is trying to breed with them 24/7. It's been mating season for 1 month and already their necks are going bald. He is even trying to fight my gander, while also constantly going into my goose nest harrasing her trying to mate while she's sitting on her eggs.

So I just want to get rid of this asshole and hope the next one will be better. My partner has asked if I want him to cull him. I'm a total whimp when it comes to slaughtering/processing. Even if I'm not involved with the process I hate being the one to decide if this drake gets to live or die. Giving him away doesn't seem like the better alternative either since I'd just be moving the problem on to someone else. I'm worried he will eventually kill or injure one of my smaller ducks if I keep this going.

I don't know how my first drake ended up being so sweet. I've never been able to get a drake like him since.

So, I've had broody chickens and other broody ducks before, but never muscovies.

About a week ago I noticed one of my ~10mo muscovy girls squeeking and fanning her tail, and I noticed she was missing every morning. I found a nest that I thought was shared between the three girls, took out a dozen eggs. She continues to be gone more and more. About 4 days ago I found her nest, right up against the back of the house, bone dry in the dirt, and area well under the generous overhangs. In between some unused roof trusses and an outboard engine underneath a black plastic garbage bag.

It's a great location for a nest, but it is still in the 40's and 50's out at this time of year. She had 11 eggs in the nest I pulled two just because she is not that big a duck. The problem is that she spends a long time off the nest in the middle of every day. Chickens and my other ducks would get off the nest, bee line for the feeders and the water, maybe grab some sun or a dust bath or a quick dip in the pond, then be back at it in under half an hour. This first time broody duck is getting off the nest around 9:30-10AM and not going back until 1 or 1:30 PM.

I know the incubation process is supposed to be a little more forgiving at the start but is this normal? Should I expect this to continue or should I see less of her soon?

We have four Muscovies, MMFF. One female has started doing the 'all day long sit in the a nest, don't get up, don't go out, fluff feathers, nip and growl thing' that they usually do when they are setting on a clutch. However, even tho she has laid eggs in the past, now she is just doing the broody thing with no eggs under her. I gave her some eggs and she just pushed them aside and kept sitting. I get her up once a day and take her out to swim in the pond and she will wash and preen and act normal for a few minutes and then head back inside to continue sitting on nothing. Has anyone experienced this and can you explain why she is not waiting for a clutch and then start setting? The other three are outside, digging, eating and preening like normal.

This is a wild duck who lives at my neighborhood pond. Her parents both had normal colors, and her sister was really dark for some reason. (pictured below)

https://preview.redd.it/kquq4fsrmpwc1.png?width=2561&format=png&auto=webp&s=dfec71d5f7fed458a15fee087d82c19ed5322206

I'm curious: The blonde one has gone broody recently (found her on a nest today) and the dark one should soon too. Are these traits recessive? Will their babies have a higher chance of being oddly colored too? They came from the same clutch last year so I haven't seen any of the offspring they could make yet.

Hello community, wanted to ask for your advice, about leaving our ducks home, whilst on holidays. We live in the countryside and have a sizeable run (12sq. m) for the ducks (that is connected to coop and is protected by wire mesh from predators). We also have a big feeder and few large water tubs for water (including one that can be automatically refilled). Also have a video system to check up on them.

We are planning to be away for 3 weeks, and are trying to figure out what would be the right cadence for visits – would it be enough if someone comes over once in 3-4 days (2 times per week roughly) or should we plan to ask people to come over more often?

I have Muscovy duck that nested and played about 12-13 eggs next to my A/C unit in my backyard. I first noticed it when I saw 3 eggs there on March 17th…it’s now April 25th and she still there sitting on the bakers dozen almost 41 days later. Could those eggs still be incubating or are they dead? Everywhere I read says around 35 days. I’d like her to leave my backyard if they aren’t going to hatch so I can let my dog out off leash again.

Thanks for any help or advice in advance!

"...In another life, we'd be two little ducks in a lake, with no worries in the world; quacking away at the boats floating by and chasing the warm summer winds together"‧₊˚

I have two young ducks thar share a pen outside with some rabbits. There’s lots of little shelters and areas to lay, but my ducks have chosen to lay in the very back of a dog igloo house. It’s pretty much impossible to reach back there without the use of a rake which ends up breaking eggs in the process. I get why they want to lay in there, it’s nice and dark and secluded, but I bought them a nice bin filled with straw for them to lay in that they ignore. Any ideas on what to do? I’m debating about cutting the top fo the dog igloo open and making it like a lid, but would prefer not to do that. Thanks!

I just got some khaki Campbell ducklings, we already have some but we never got them while they were this young, and I was wondering when would it be fine to go outside with them? Just for them to be outside with me for a little, I don't mean overnight!

Attached a picture of the day we got them just because they're so cute 🥰

Thanks in advance x

he is full grown but has never tried to mate at all, which is good because his options are his sister and chickens and i dont want to get rid of him if he ever attempts at the chickens. but why hasnt he like ever done any kind of mating at all? is he dumb?

First time raising ducklings and goslings. I received them via post early this morning. Immediately put them in the brooder that I had set up according to hatchery instruction the night before. Temperature is 95. Have a temp gauge and camera on the brooder.

One gosling was stuck in the cup I assume had feed in it? Thought it was dead. Assessed everyone else quickly and they looked good enough to go in brooder.

Warmed up gosling over the next 45 minutes and was happily rewarded with it coming around. Doing well as we speak.

Went out to check everyone at about 45 minutes after putting them in the brooder and notice two ducklings not moving and four lethargic. Now I’ve got them separated and one seems to be doing better, one still borderline, and four that I don’t think are coming back.

Is this common when shipping ducklings? If not, what did I do wrong?

Thanks for any insight and advice.

Hello guys, I have two rescue ducklings (removed them from a bad caretaker) and they're about a month old right now. Currently they stay outdoor full time as the weather has been stable between 34°C and 29°C. they're happy healthy and thriving but I'm so worried about them because in two months the temperatures will reach up to 47°c.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for the weather? should I buy them an AC? I already got them a nicely ventilated wooden house and they love to get shade inside of it and I'm planting some mint around for them to eat, they're still not fully feathered but they get a large bucket of water during the day hours to clean themselves and smaller water containers (large enough for bill, not large enough to enter) at night.

What else should I get them for the hotter months?