It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway.
The snappers have bred so successfully, that the minute his little webbed feet touched the pond, this duckling would've become turtle food. We think they were even behind the recent demise of the tweed duck, the largest of our Runners.
Indian Runner ducks aren't supposed to go broody. But this one did, and sat on a great many eggs. I didn't figure she would stick to it... after all, this is the home of the Muscovy duck who thinks she only has to sit on her eggs at night, and the hens who play musical nests when trying to brood.
This gal turned out to be amazingly fierce when protecting her eggs. Only this baby hatched, though. Oh, he was so cute! The first time I saw him, I'd leaned over to question her (in the proud tradition of prospective grandmothers everywhere), "Why haven't you had any babies yet?" And there he was, standing on her back.
There is not much in this world cuter than a duckling. Quick, run get the camera! By the time I'd returned, the baby was in this position, trying to take a little nap by her side. I had to use the zoom - she didn't want us anywhere near him.
He died three days later, of unknown causes.
12 comments:
Sorry about the tough luck. I suppose you were right about the turtles too. Still, I'm glad you posted about this.
Poor guy.
DuckLINGS are cute and DuckADULTS are so funny.
Sorry for your loss, but I find raising poultry to be a series of death and disappointments...still I persist.
You need a recipe for snapping turtle!
Aww man. Ducks are my favorite animals on this earth. Sad to see one of them ducklings die. But just having ducks and being able to watch their antics would be worth it I believe.
I'm sorry- that just makes me sad reading about it. I have problems with turtles too- especially in the garden.
That is so sad.
I'm glad you got that picture though..
Ducklings ARE the cutest things - but prone to misadventure - over here the black-backed gulls gobble them up.
This brings back many memories of ducks and ducklings from by youthful 4H days. I, and my parents, raised many duckling and had many die in pen and creek from various causes.
Thanks y'all. It was sad.
FC, I'd hate to try it, with the condition of the water they're in. (In the creek & drainage ditches, not the pond.)
KF, luckily they have left the garden alone so far. (Knock wood!)
Shannon thanks for the egg info! I've had wild thoughts about trying to do it here, but I'm not sure if it would pay for itself or not. (We are just giving our eggs away now.) Right now they're not laying much anyway.
Very cute pic - I'm so sorry the little one didn't make it.
Ducks are notoriously bad sitters -Beatrix Potter wasn't making it up in Jemima Puddleduck.
You can hatch and rear ducklings under hens if you have a good broody (28 days vs 21). The funny bit is seeing the look on the hen's little face when the ducklings decide to throw themselves in water for the first time. It's priceless.
Ha! I am laughing just thinking about it. :) For some reason I'd thought that duck eggs needed more moisture while incubating.
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