So now we have ducks

[mik]

Mrs mik wanted chickens some years back. We didn’t go for it at the time, but her inner poultry urge did not leave.

So I spent the morning and early afternoon putting a 2x3m pen together. The frame was straight forward but the mesh just came in a 30m roll and took feckin ages to cut to size and cable-tie on.

3 female ducks. 13 weeks old. 3 different varieties - raised together from chicks so they are already a wee herd. (Edit: one Indian Runner, one Khaki Campbell, one Aylesbury / Peking cross.

Spent most of the later afternoon settling them in their coop, but they came out tonight and had a good waggle around and found the steps leading upto a wee paddling pool. They were rather pleased to find this and had a good splish about. Ate a bit of food, and we put them away for the night after 30 mins or so.

No pics yet - light was fading.

Once I put a bit of chicken wire on some fencing we have, and get the dogs used to them - they’ll be able to roam a far larger section of the garden,

Names not yet finalised. Shredded, crispy and pan-fried were considered.

So here we go.

[duncs500]

Nice, look forward to the pics!

[jamcg]

Nice- as for names how about April may and June after the Disney characters?

[Coaster1]

Apparently they are good as pets.

A while ago somehow I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and watched a bunch of videos about ducks

[Simon]

How about

'with orange'
'with lemon'
and
'surprise'

for names?

[Beany]

Just call one of them 'goose' and have it chase you around a lot.

[Mito Man]

That would be quackers.

[Jobbo]

Fabulous. Love ducks.

[Beany]

Fabulous. Love ducks.

Are they like Love Cats, but less scratchy and more bitey?

[mik]

@Coaster1 - we tried peas with wild ducks and swans at a nearby bit of inland water - neither were interested.

Very Ken to try again based on that video

[Matty]

Very Ken

Is that what you've named one of the ducks?

Like Ken...but a more intense Ken.

[mik]

I’ve decided to call one

- Captain Paranoia Votes Conservative

And another

- what colour is the boathouse at Hereford

I need to finalise it with Mrs mik, but I’m sure it will be fine.

[nuttinnew]

Very Ken

Is that what you've named one of the ducks?

Like Ken...but a more intense Ken.

? A dinner Ken.

[Jobbo]

Fabulous. Love ducks.

Are they like Love Cats, but less scratchy and more bitey?

They’re like Love Eggs but less vibratey and more grown up.

[V8Granite]

When I was dating a girl in Dubai we had a pet duck called Thor, he was saved from a particularly horrible market stall apparently.

Thor was eventually released into Safa Park.

Ducks make a wonderfully relaxing background noise but shit everywhere.

RIP Miks cream carpets

Dave!

[Gavin]

Billy, Wingy, Feathery, Ducky O'Hare?

[Beany]

Fabulous. Love ducks.

Are they like Love Cats, but less scratchy and more bitey?

They’re like Love Eggs but less vibratey and more grown up.

That's a far higher quality response than I deserved, thanks

[Marv]

@Coaster1 - we tried peas with wild ducks and swans at a nearby bit of inland water - neither were interested.

Our chickens love sweetcorn/maize, but have always turned their beaks up at peas.

[dinny_g]

I’ve decided to call one

- Captain Paranoia Votes Conservative

And another

- what colour is the boathouse at Hereford

I need to finalise it with Mrs mik, but I’m sure it will be fine.

Pronounced Hareford??

Edit - call the third one...

“You may take our lives... but you’ll never take... our Deep Fried produce!!!”

[mik]

Couple of pics. They don’t know or trust us yet.... but have taken some food, splashed about and performed much preening...