May 14 1998 ~~~~~We checked on our duck Gabby's nest. J Gabby has
ducklings !!! Gabby built her nest in the middle of our pampas grass and the
ducklings are about two feet above the ground. So I am watching to see if she
brings them out for food and water. The pampas grass is only a few feet away from
a pond but the pond is full of predators. In the eight years we have lived here I have
never seen one baby mallard survive more than about three weeks on the pond. I
plan to keep a journal of "Gabby's Gang" here. Wish us luck !
We are not sure what kind of duck Gabby is, but we think she is a fawn and white
runner mix. She probably weighs about four pounds.
May 15 1998 ~~~~~ At about 11:00 am I saw Gabby walking across the back yard
with thirteen tiny balls of yellow fluff in close proximity. She brought the gang out
for food and water. They went down to the edge of the pond. The ducklings keep
trying to go out further and Gabby has to go with them. My ducks don't usually go
out far because they know of the dangers. I may have to build a pen since the
babies don't have that fear yet.
May 16 1998 ~~~~~ Not a good day ! We first saw Gabby and her gang at about
10:00 am. There were only 12 Babies with her,( I am constantly counting). I found
a dead baby a short while later. So right away we went to Lowe's for some fence
wire, when we arrived home again there were only eight babies, and we found the
bodies of two more.) We gathered up Gabby and the eight remaining babies and put
them in a temporary pen. So for now Gabby and the eight remaining babies are
doing fine. I guess I need to start thinking of names. One of the babies looks like he
is going to have a crest. I hope to have pictures soon.
May 17 1998 ~~~~~ A much better day. We let Gabby and the gang out while we were in the backyard today. She brought the ducklings out twice. The first time for only about five minutes. The second time she took them to the edge of the pond and they were out for almost two hours. I took some more pictures. The gang has developed a strong sense of fear so even I can't get to close now. I wanted to get a close-up shot so I picked one of the babies up.It just happen to be the one with the little crest on his head. Which I think of as a funny hair do or fancy hats. So I wanted to name this duckling after some one known for their fancy hair style or hats. Therefore I have decided to name the crested duckling Minnie Pearl. Only seven more to name.
A couple of people have asked what do we think killed the babies. Well we have a pair of Canadian Geese with goslings on the pond. In my opinion, Canadian Geese (I think I am suppose to call them Canada Geese, but I prefer Canadian) make the worlds best parents, but they are aggressive. Anyway we can't seem to keep these geese out of our back yard. When I mentioned the predators of ducks earlier, the last thing that would have occured to me was the geese might kill the ducklings. But here are the reasons why we now think the geese are the culprits. First, the babies were killed early in the morning and while we were at Lowe's. Well every morning when we get up the geese are in our yard, and as soon as we leave the house they come in the yard. Second, each time we found one of the little lifeless ducklings, there was goose droppings all around it. And most of the bodies were found so they were not killed for a source of food. And third and the most incriminating evidence, is the babies are EXTREMELY afraid of the geese now. When the geese come in the yard the babies take off for the water and go about 40 feet out in the water. This is the only time they go more than five feet from the edge. So that is why we now think it was the geese. Actually I have a hunch it was a gosling and not the adults. There is one gosling that leads the way and he is as mean as a snake! He will chase everything in my yard regardless of size.
May 18 1998 ~~~~~ Gabby and the gang are doing great. I let them out this afternoon.
They went to the edge of the pond and about 30 minutes later the geese came along and she headed
for her nest in the pampas grass and I had to lead her back to the pen. I looked at the duckling
I was going to name Minnie Pearl today and decided he looked more like a Don King.
May 20 1998 ~~~~~ The babies are almost one week old and are growing fast. We think we may have another duck that will have a small crest. The duckling with the large crest is Don King! ( Is it obvious that I am partial to the crested duckling?). In my new found role of co-parenting I will try not to let it show. But he is soooooo cute. Well, we seem to have settled into a routine, where we let Gabby's gang out at lunch and after dinner for a trip to the pond.
When I was leaving for work this morning I found one of the "homeless cats, that thinks she lives here" had dropped off three kittens. We are going to need to float a loan to feed all these critters.
May 24 1998 ~~~~~ It has been a busy
week end. The babies are eating like little pigs. It is becoming apparrent to
me that I will need to find homes for some of the ducklings. : ( On Saturday,
Gabby at one point got separated from the babies. They went thru a fence that
Gabby couldn't get thru and she was really upset. I had to guide her to the
gate
Then on Sunday five babies got out of the pen. So we fixed that problem, and every
thing is back on track. And they are back to normal, eating all my flowers.
With a strong preference for coreopsis.
May 25 1998 ~~~~~ I let Gabby's Gang out early
and I had to come inside for a few minutes.
I heard her quacking loudly and when I looked out the window one of the Geese were running her down.
The ducklings were scattered in all directions. I thought one was hurt but he seems fine now.
The ducklings are no longer little balls of fluff.
They now look and act like little ducks. We have been feeding them non-medicated chick feed. Which none of my ducks have ever liked.
And noticed today
they turned down the chick food and the bread crumbs in favor of puppy food.
We have been informed
that our ducks should not be eating puppy food. But it is the only thing our
first pair, Hannah and Edsel would eat. Hannah died after being attacked by
numerous predators. But Edsel is still here and very spoiled. So she still
gets her puppy food. We do try to provide a balanced diet for the ducks.
When we had to get something from the potting shed, we were in store for
another surprise...........four more new kittens..... Help !!!
May 28, 1998 ~~~~~ Thanks to Tim Jones
at the The Poultry Connection for posting my pictures.
May 29 1998 ~~~~~ Todays lesson....Baby Ducks will not pose for a photograph.
May 31 1998 ~~~~~ Well I have found homes for as many of the babies as I can bring myself to part with. I think I will keep Don "King" and maybe Minnie "Pearl". I hate to give any of them away, but I already had 7 Ducks before the babies. So that is a total of 15. WOW ! Add to that 4 Birds and 5 cats and seven kitties we have found so far, I suspect there is one more litter of kittens is going to turn up anyday now.Whew !
I was finally able to get some pictures up. I will continue to keep a journal of the ducklings as they grow. I will probally update about once a week now and I will add new pictures as they get older. They are growing fast, well that does it for May. ..for the latest entries go to Gabbys' Journal~Part II
