MyPetDucks.com

Wow!  It is -13 F as I write this post and my furnace is really struggling!  Yet I’m comfy.  This makes me think about all the ducks down at the dam by my house.  The water stays open year round and the ducks (at least a few hundred or so) stay year round too.

My question is how do they stay warm?  They swim in the icy water and seem to be happy.  They are diving, dipping, drinking and evn sleeping.  Their beaks (on days like today) are covered in ice.  Are they cold?  Why don’t their little legs just freeze solid.

I know they are hungry.  The snow has covered up all the grass and weeds.  Minnows and bugs are pretty slim pickings.  So, my wife and daughter delivered two fifty pound bags of corn yesterday and it was devoured in 5 minutes.  They are famished.  The corn helps them make it through the coldest part of the winter (helps maintain body fat).

Later his week I plan to add a “donate” button to my site.  Please consider donating $1.  I’ll use it all on corn for the local ducks.  The 50 lb. bags re getting pretty expensive these days.

Thanks, Dave

Thanksgiving is over, Christmas shopping has started and it is cold here in Minnesota (-3 F 12/8),  brrrrr!  I’m getting outside less and less.  However, I did make it out to feed my friends; the ducks that winter down at the Rum river by my home.

This time of year the ducks have a lot of friends.  Thousands and thousands of migrating mallards and a few Canadian geese line the banks of the river.  The confluence of the Rum and the Mississippi is on the main migration path south.  For about a month, mid November through mid December the banks of the river are packed with waterfowl.

The local ducks however know me.  As soon as they see me coming with my bucket of corn (and hear my whistle) they all come running.  A few more timid birds stay in the back and wait for me to throw them some corn.  The others however will eat right out of the bucket.  There are two big white ducks that waddle up to me and give me a fun look.  They love to eat out of my hand and get their belly rubbed; apparently two pets that were either dumped or escaped from up on the Mississippi.

As it gets colder more ducks leave.  Only a few hundred stay all winter in the open water below the dam.

Hi!  Each Thanksgiving (before the big turkey meal) my family and I go feed the ducks down at the river by our house.  This time of year there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ducks visiting our small river.  They are on their way down south.

So, we bring down a 50lb. sack of shelled corn and give them a treat.  They love it!  It is a feeding freenzy of porportions that must be seen to appreciate.  This year I plan to bring my video camera and tape the event.  I’ll put a link up on this blog and on the homepage of www.MyPetDucks.com.

Check it out (the video should be awesome).  And by the way, have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.  This year in particular give thanks for family, friends and faith.

Why Mallard Ducks Make Good Pets

By: Craig R. (age 10)

Have you ever wondered if a mallard duck would make a good pet? That’s something good to think about, because a mallard duck would make a really good pet. A mallard duck would be a good choice for a pet, because they are kind, friendly, and they make good friends with you.

If you want a mallard duck as a pet, make sure you’re willing to do a lot of extra work. Mallard ducks are one of those pets who make a lot of messes! You can usually find a wild mallard duck or duckling at a farm and garden place where you can buy wild farm animals.

But if you raise a mallard duck or duckling that was born in the wild, it won’t hurt a thing.

Mallard ducks are always nice to you, most of the time. Some mallards are so friendly, that if you get close to them, and grab them, they will let you pet them. But be super careful when it comes to grabbing a mallard duck. Mallards are sometimes vulnerable in some areas of their body, and you wouldn’t ever want to have your pet mallard injured. But some other mallards would try all they can to get away if you grab them.

I have just told you some facts about why mallard ducks can make good pets, and it would be very enjoyable to have a mallard duck as a pet. I have had a mallard duck as a pet before, and it’s very nice. It’s also even fun to watch. Sometimes, things can be rough when it comes to raising a duck. But sometimes, you can realize how much fun it is to raise one, and you may even develop a bond between you and the duck.

Well it finally happened this day (October 26th); it snowed!  Yuck!!  After church I went down to the river to see how the ducks were faring.  They loved it or so it seemed.  Just like a good rainstorm I guess ducks like rain.  They were diving, dipping and chasing each other around.  When they saw me and my bucket over they came.  A free meal of duck pellets and off they went.

36 degrees/winds gusting to 30 miles per hour, not good for us Minnesotants but OK for the ducks …

So far no luck.  Went down to the river looking for the little lady with a fishing net, small scissors, wire cutter and needle nose pliers.  Had plans to net the duck, cut away the lure and line and then release her.  There were a lot of ducks around but not the hurt one.  I’ll try again.

I need some help!  Was hiking down at a local river and came upon a mallard with a problem.  He had a bid fishing lure stuck in his leg.  Plus, it had a long strand of fishing line hung from it that was starting to wrap around his leg (about 2 or 3 feet long).  He can fly.

My thought is he won’t stray to far and maybe I can capture him, get out the hook/line and let him go.  What should I do?  Lure him close with some food and capture him in a fishing net?  I don’t want to hurt him but he needs some help.

Thoughts?

Hello!  It is beautiful here in Minnesota this time of year; the trees are vivid colors, there is a nip in the air and things are chainging (and the birds are on the move).  This time of year my kids and I like to go down to the river and feed the ducks.  We have been doing this for years.

Recently, I have been reading articles on the downside of feeding ducks.  The articles point to spreading sickness among the wild ducks, interbreeding causing hybrids and a host of other evils (including messy parks).  However, I see an upside, here goes.

(1) Many families enjoy feeding the ducks (and I mean lots).  I see kids of all ages, couples, old folks and even teens.  All of them are smiling, talking, laughing and having a fun time.  I feel in todays busy world feeding the ducks brings people together and creates memories.

(2) The parks are getting a lot more use.  Families come down to feed the ducks (where as they may have just stayed home).  After they feed the ducks the hang around a swing, walk, have something to eat and a lot of fun.

(3) Ducks are getting fed.  True that a lot of folks are bring junk food (bread, crackers, etc.) that is not nutitional.  However, I have been speaking with folks on what to bring; cracked corn and duck pellets available at a feed store just down the road.  Now, the ducks that are just passing through get good food for their journey and the ones that winter in the river (stays open year round as it has a dam) are eating better.

So let me know what you think!  Should we be feeding the ducks or should they be left to fend for themselves?

Thanks, Dave

Well its fall up here in Minnesota.  The leaves are starting to turn, there is a slight nip in the air, its getting dark sooner and staying dark later, and, my ducks are all revvvvvvved up!  Yesterday it was raining hard and water was pooling between my concrete patio and my backyard grass.  Of course the ducks were busy jamming their beaks deep into the ground digging at the roots; so tasty I guess.  My ducks love the rain.  They were running around, squaking like crazy and havinga great time.

But with fall comes flying (and seeing the mallards and geese going back and forth over my house).  The other day the “Cranky Female” took off right at dusk (unusual for her).  She took off and I had to roiund her up a couple of houses over.  My other three mallards were very upset and scolded her for a long time once I gt her back.  I do have the fear that one day a big flock of mallards making starting their journey south will call to my boys.  Will they join in?  I sure hope not.

Anyone raise pet mallards and have them fly south with all the wild mallards?

Fall is here, enjoy!

The weather is changing and so are my ducks.  Up in Minnesota our days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer.  Our nightime temps are dropping into the forties and the daytime highs are in the high sixties low seventies.  The wild mallards and Canadian geese are getting ready to migrate; flying back and forth between to local lakes; right over my house (and my ducks).  And our ducks are changing!

I’ve noticed a few things lately.  My ducks (4 mallards; 2 hens and 2 drakes) are a lot more aggressive.  The boys are nipping at the girls and the girls are fighting back.  My kids have nicknamed one of the hens “The Cranky Lady”.  She is always running around the yard making a huge racket with her head down.  She is so loud!

The ducks seem very interested in the local mallards (not so much the geese) flying over our home.  A few time they have even gotten agitated and flown over our fence into the neighbors yard.  So far they have come back but what about next time.

I have noticed however, that the two males (e.g., Jumper and Big Boy) have become more friendly when being handled.  They’ll let me and the kids handle them and they remain very calm.  This has been a bonus as the kids love to hold and pet them. 

Make sure to check out the gallery at www.mypetducks.com/gallery to see the newest pictures.

See you next time, Dave