|
|
 | |
auctions - advertising rates -
site news -
help -
contact
| |
|
Thursday: 9 PM ET: Pet Loss & Grief Support Chat 10 PM ET: Long Term Illness Support Chat
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
auctions - advertising rates -
site news -
help -
contact
| |
|
Thursday: 9 PM ET: Pet Loss & Grief Support Chat 10 PM ET: Long Term Illness Support Chat
|
Posted by Doug Miller on November 14, 2002 at 12:48:03:
In Reply to: my ducklings posted by cathy41311 on November 14, 2002 at 11:28:58:
Cathy,
I reread your original 15 Oct post and realized you brought the mother home...she must have been pretty tame to have done that and just about has to be a feral domestic...I'm guessing muscovy despite no red...a young hen would not have much red yet...possible...what about vocalizations? Mallard derivative hens will quack, muscovy hens do NOT quack and have more of a "peng!" alarm call they give when you get too close to them when they are broody. Did the hen quack? Another way to tell when they get older is the size of the claws. Muscovy claws are significantly larger than mallard derivatives, an old male will have an inner claw that almost reminds you of a Velociraptor! Mallard claws are smaller and more uniform in size. Muscovy claws at hatching are also sharper as they must be able to climb out of the nest cavity in the wild. Course its not as easy to tell these things unless you have the two side by side and are somewhat familiar with ducks. Juvenile coloration is unfortunately not as helpful as you might think. Except for a few (like muscovy barreds which are yellow with colored tail) mallards and muscovys share much the same juvenile coloration...I have yet to find a website that shows what the adult will look like based on juvenile coloration...somebody please do this!
If muscovys, once they get wing feathers they can fly and will be big enough to get away/not fear most predators. Many mallard derivatives however, cannot fly because of reduced wing size. If panicked by a dog or similar, however, instinct will take over and they will TRY to fly which will result in their moving even slower than if they just tried to run away! Some people herd their ducks into a shed every night to avoid critter problems.
That's really funny about your dog! I'd like to see some mpeg of that some day! Cats are worrisome...they can't help but stalk and hunt stuff...even if to just bat it around.
Good thing the dog is on the job!
Good luck, Doug
:Hi I am still not sure what the ducklings are, the mother did not have any red on her face like the pictures I seen on the muscovy site. I will try to post a picture of them but I am not the best with posting pictures. But will try to figure it out. The oldest of the two is a dark chocolate brown and the other is chocolate brown with yellow patches. They love to swim in the bath tub as long as I am looking on and they love to follow me around outside. They also like to follow my dog around who doesnt mind, she has dubbed her self their protector and wont let the cats near them. They are making progress. We will most likely build a pen for them and shelter this weekend, cant see getting rid of them now that we have been through so much together, haha. We have a lake behind our house so hopefully this spring they will be able to move back there or at least spend some time there. I am worried about the hawks and foxes that will be lurking around. Well goodluck on your trip to South America, be safe. Cathy