As I had extra help yesterday I decided to move the ducks to their permanent area. There is no house for them yet but they had been too long in their out of the way holding pen. Time to get them into the action – right into the corridor paddock where there is lots if foot traffic both animal and human. We set up the craziest race track in the world with pallets, and timber and buckets and the tractor and umbrellas and piece of string.
Positioning people at each turn I let the ducks out and little by little squawking and carrying on and bunched so tight it looked like a mob three legged race with 34 legs they crept around the wall of the garage and through the gate into the little field.
(the recovering walnut)
We had a few break outs when the pigs suddenly rushed over for a look but in the end all the ducks were corralled in the tin chicken tractor.
They will stay in here with lots of visitors until the know where their new home is and settle down. Already they have had more visitors than before and because thus is a small house they will get used to us being close to them.
In a week or so – depending on their behavior – they will be let out into the enclosed field and I will herd them back in here at night. Sometime this summer I hope to find a better house for the winter.
(Please excuse the doubling up of images but the new download needs to settle in and I don’t have the time to muddle with it this morning).
The bad news is there is more rain coming. I don’t mind if we miss it as I have a lot of hay to cut later this week – if all goes well. The good news is that I saw Tia is in heat, yesterday, so this gives me a date for her and Del to visit the bull. I know Del is fertile but was not sure about Tia.
I hope you have a lovely day!
celi
Monday 0% Precip. / 0 in
Partly cloudy. High 82F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night 50% Precip. / 0.09 in
Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low near 65F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “DUCK DRIVE”
What a perfectly cherubic child. She is beautiful…like a little Alice in Wonderland gazing at the piglets. And the ducks are quite handsome in their new quarters!
She is enchanted by the pigs and completely unafraid.
My kinda girl
OMG this really made me laugh! “Positioning people at each turn I let the ducks out and little by little squawking and carrying on and bunched so tight it looked like a mob three legged race with 34 legs they crept around the wall of the garage and through the gate into the little field.”
It worked though – everyone moved where they should
It was really ingenious, your plan…I could just visualize those ducks all bunched up as they walked. Duck behavior is interesting and entertaining…
Duck wrangling!
I know!!
Ducks with adult plumage and all, will they start laying soon, after they settle in their new home? Rather you than me trying to collect those eggs 😆 Laura
Not for a few months yet!
Whoa! It seems they grew so quickly! Yes, hopefully they will settle now and become comfortable with human beings close by! We received our 10 Muscovy ducklings and they are in the brooder, and will stay there for a week, or maybe two weeks more. They are more expensive ducks, I found out, after My John had already ordered them! We will carefully baby them. Those we had last year were great layers, and really good mamas too, so fingers crossed all with go well with both our our lots! 🙂
I am sure they will be easier to manage … while will be a good thing
Imagine driving those ducks through Islington in 1850!
Yes! Just imagine the noise!!
I always thought herding cats or middle-aged motorcyclists (yes, I *do* have experience of that one…) was the hardest, but clearly ducks present hitherto unsuspected challenges! They are very handsome ducks, I like the smooth line of their beaks and foreheads.
Yes. They are lovely to look at.
So you were a duck master leading them to their new home. Have you been to any of the Peabody hotels? (http://peabodymemphis.com/ducks-en.html) It is a sight to see them come off or get on the elevators for sure.
Sweet little girl photos!
What a fun video and facts, thanks Pat
Laura
Thank you, Pat, for such a delightful link.
my oh my…never a dull day at the farmy!
I just wish my six dogs were like your ducks..they had no problem going to new home. We have spent two weeks making nice individual kennels for dog, who at the moment have to be crated when we go out. Open air, good shelter, plenty of room for rough and tumble yet when we tried it out they all ran to the crates and would not move. I am convinced dogs are as thick as two planks….. But its good to know that ducks move was successful and that they are all happy Your life is never dull !!!
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Your dogs! You will have to put the crates in their run!
Beautiful child, beautiful ducks!
Beautiful little girl. I hope the ducks settle down soon!
Adorable little girl and the ducks are cute too. They look so sleek and healthy.
Sleek – yes they are that.
you are aware that that breed of duck can fly?
Oh that would make things interesting. I had Pekins and Runners , it was hard enough to corral them and they can’t fly. I did look that up and sure enough Khaki Campbells can fly.
Yup!
I can not see much detail in the walnut tree. How is it coming along?
I cut all its branches off so as to take the weight off the big split and it is growing them all back as fast as it can. But it is vigorous! I think it thinks it is two trees now
That is often how they respond. There will of course be no nuts this year, and probably none next year, but it will probably make a few (proportionate to the size of the canopy) the following years. It should be worth the effort.