skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Young Ducklings are quick to learn where there's a food source, mainly from their Mum of course.
During chilly weather their need for food is much greater, to keep the cold out and keep growing as well.
The combination of dried mealworm, porridge oats, and mixed bird seed, is an ideal high protein diet to do the job.
The sequence of shots shows what happens when I turn up with the food every day, the ducklings virtually scoot over the water, have their fill and depart to sleep it off !
This Mum knows me from previous years and her experience shows. It's nice being in demand !
The Injured duck is recovering well, after only 2 days the medication is taking effect and the angry raw wounds are calming down. She is also eating like there's no tomorrow, showing a preference for round lettuce, mealworm and poultry pellets. Her isolation in the brooder box suits her fine right now, and she has the company of a life size sister in the form of an A4 photo. This was a successful idea of mine over the years, making a home from home for ducks and ducklings...it works !
I had the opportunity of a duck count the other evening when they were all settled down for the night - I counted 150.
Many of the ducks that had been away nesting have now returned minus their offspring !
The crows and other predators have all but annihilated this years ducklings.
Only two female ducks out of 45 that were able to nest, have successfully managed to save 3 and 4 from their broods.
Well over 100 ducklings were lost to predators that I know of, but the number is more likely to be double or treble that amount.
Even the ones that I managed to help for several weeks before releasing them to the river had a hard time, with about a quarter still being taken, including the beautiful white duck.
However more than a dozen have survived and thankfully most of those are female. Having done it myself I know just how hard it is for ducks to rear their offspring, they have my total admiration and sympathy. The Trust provides feed for the swans and ducks every day, they each receive an average of around 2.2 ounces of grain per day which I try to distribute as equitably as possible. This is boosted by seasonal pulled grass, carrots and wholemeal bread. To aid good feather growth, I give Mealworm, lettuce, and thawed garden peas for the newly reared ducklings. We probably have the healthiest water birds in Scotland .
Not forgetting the over wintering Pintail refugee from the North !
Some people are still throwing their mouldy stale bread to the birds - PLEASE DON'T, it is poisonous to swans and ducks !!
Five days ago our beautiful white duck injured her leg, I have been closely monitoring her condition and thankfully she is now beginning to recover. This is a very dangerous time for ducks along the riverbank, the drakes testosterone levels are rising and they are pursuing the ducks. In addition, dogs are also scaring the birds suddenly, where they rush down the banks to the river. Exposed tree roots laying horizontally along the bank edges, allow the ducks feet and legs to go under roots and the downward momentum injures their leg muscles and joints.
I was fearful of the white duck having a broken leg, for she was sitting for 4 days with the leg behind her in the same position. I emailed photos and video to Sue our Avian expert, and she thought that it was probably not broken . Only yesterday did I see the duck partially using the leg, confirming Sue's assessment. It will most likely take 3 or 4 weeks for full use of the leg to return.
Meanwhile I am feeding her Mealworms, lettuce and grain seeds, to aid recovery.
Fortunately she has a good mate who is keeping strangers away, and keeping very close to her.
