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Post by naturelover on May 13, 2015 11:07:56 GMT -5
Do you really think ducklings will come by?!!! I assumed they would all head off to a pond or somewhere once they grew. If ducklings show it will be summer made instead of day made Could happen..and for sure they'll eat from your hand. The male might too, once he gets used to you.
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 16, 2015 13:25:04 GMT -5
If the ducklings DO come by, you sure better get lots of pics, downylover!
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Post by downylover on May 18, 2015 17:58:13 GMT -5
I found Duck & Goose food at a different PetSmart on Sunday so of course no sign of him all day Sunday! Just now I was outside watching the other birds and she flew in. She was honking/quacking and waddling around then came and ate. She kept talking and about 5 minutes later he landed. He started gobbling up the food then she suddenly flew off and he immediately followed.
I'm glad I found the food they like. Its dried whole kernel corn, wheat and milo. After they left the blue jays and squirrels were grabbing up the corn so I'm sure it will be cleaned up very fast (I didn't put out too much, don't want corn left over). The doves seem to be eating the other seed.
The thawed corn and peas was not a hit with the ducks. They definitely seem to like this food better. I am glad I tried the other just because I got to see cardinals carrying off peas. I never would have thought they would take that.
Hahaha Hazel, I'll be snapping away like a madwoman if ducklings show up. Then maybe I'll get 5 decent ones.
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 19, 2015 11:55:44 GMT -5
Cardinals like peas?! Who woulda thunk that!?!
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Post by naturelover on May 19, 2015 15:30:07 GMT -5
Sounds like you have a pair of duck friends Kim. And I wouldn't have thought cardinals would want peas either!!
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on May 20, 2015 21:47:49 GMT -5
What a great story about the ducks, you, and finding duck food!!! Cardinals and peas??
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Post by downylover on May 21, 2015 16:14:48 GMT -5
The ducks have been here a few more times. She is far more nervous than he is. If I go out to bring food when they are there he starts waddling in my direction and she goes the opposite way. They dropped by last night and were gobbling the food then someone's car alarm went off and she stretched her neck and took off in 3 seconds. He goes when she goes. So I had duck food all over. The squirrels were quite happy. They were cute gobbling up the corn so a nice treat for them. The doves were all over the other seed so everything was cleaned up.
I never thought any bird would take a pea. The cardinals are always the first to fly over to any new food I put out so I wasn't surprised that they came to see what it was. When one of the males flew off with a pea I thought "well he's not going to be happy when he goes to eat it". Then 3 others carried them off too.
Edited: She finally had a good meal! He was here really early by himself and flew off before I got out there. 30 minutes later I look out and they are both out there. I have to throw some bread to get their attention and then they find the other when they're pecking around. They don't budge when I just throw the duck food and she always looks 5 seconds away from flying off until I throw some bread. I only threw out 1 slice and they didn't eat that much of it once they found the other food. The grackles are out there cleaning up the bread. Maybe it will keep them from the feeders.
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 22, 2015 9:45:46 GMT -5
Yay! Glad they're still coming around. I see your other birds and squirrels are rejoicing in the duck food bonanza, too! LOL Do you throw out cracked corn or whole kernels? I use cracked corn by one of the stump feeders for the turkey and the jays, but the squirrels don't seem to care for it...
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Post by downylover on May 22, 2015 20:32:28 GMT -5
Yay! Glad they're still coming around. I see your other birds and squirrels are rejoicing in the duck food bonanza, too! LOL Do you throw out cracked corn or whole kernels? I use cracked corn by one of the stump feeders for the turkey and the jays, but the squirrels don't seem to care for it... Its whole kernel and other seed. Its THIS
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Post by hutchgigi on May 23, 2015 18:10:59 GMT -5
That is a great story. I enjoy my pair very much. It is much different then on the lagoon were we had 50 plus. they nested last year in the cove and we saw chicks by June 10th. I see her come to the corn hole at night and eat and run to the lake to drink. I know when the babies come I should move the corn hold down closer to the water. they nibble drink nibble drink. to watch them you think they are gonna come of equal in running off the food. Barley is good to feed them also. I have the cracked corn all the time. The cardinals also like it. When my pair returned this spring they had three JV with them, now I see they are all feathered up as males. They swim about from time to time. set on the rocks. sun them selves. I hope they wont hurt the new cluch. Last year they had nine. You enjoy those gret visitors. Ginny H.
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Post by hazelrunmama on May 23, 2015 23:23:30 GMT -5
Yay! Glad they're still coming around. I see your other birds and squirrels are rejoicing in the duck food bonanza, too! LOL Do you throw out cracked corn or whole kernels? I use cracked corn by one of the stump feeders for the turkey and the jays, but the squirrels don't seem to care for it... Its whole kernel and other seed. Its THISThanks, Kim! I had no idea there was seed formulated for ducks and geese.
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Post by happybirder on May 24, 2015 14:24:41 GMT -5
Downylover's Duck and Goose Food is almost like the Scratch Grain we buy in 50# bags year-round to mix 1:1 with BOSS. Ours is cracked corn, wheat and milo and the birds all gobble it right up. We pay around $ 13.65 for 50#, sometimes a little less. It is for chickens' feed and our birds do very well on it.
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Post by downylover on May 24, 2015 16:05:21 GMT -5
Wow Ginny, that sounds amazing.
I paid $4.99 for 5lbs! This afternoon I went outside to clean/fill the water but before I could I heard quacking overhead. They flew by then circled back and landed. I had food with me for them since I was planning on sitting outside. Gee, I'm glad I ran around to get Duck food because she waddled to the stump and enjoyed the bird food. She's been really nervous the last couple of times so it was great to see her so relaxed today. He was waddling all around. They were here for about 20 minutes. She did pose for some pictures that I'll post later but here she is eating some seed. Its slanted because I was leaning around a chair with the camera. LOL she was not about to slide off.
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Post by Calamity Creek Gal on May 24, 2015 17:28:05 GMT -5
How wonderful Kim! Looking forward to the pictures too. The little red berries are...?
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Post by downylover on May 24, 2015 17:43:22 GMT -5
How wonderful Kim! Looking forward to the pictures too. The little red berries are...? They're some kind of dried cherries. It comes in the seed mix I buy but not many birds seem too interested in them. They returned! They did eat the duck food this time and also had some nice clean water. She went back to the stump but a squirrel had been eating there so there wasn't much there.
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