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Originally Posted by homealone
I've kept in touch with this thread because
I'm just as much a 'softy' for fluffy baby ducks, as anyone.
I think snodvan is being incredibly caring & I share his concern for them
I'm worried about the food aspect.
- I just wondered if anyone knew whether ducklings were fed by their parents, or whether they foraged, themselves? If the latter, then they might get some grub from the pond - insects, small snails, worms?
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We are all big softies where ducks are concerned.
I think ducklings fend for themselves from a very early age. All day they seem to have been pecking / grovelling into the grass of the lawn (which has been uncut for a week or so) and just at the moment they are doing that with a vengence. I suspect that is because as night comes and the grass gets more moist all sorts of small insects/ larvae come out - at least it is always this time of night when the midges etc bite my ankles when I am camping.
There will be loads of insecty things in the flower borders because 3 months ago I spread 2 tons of stable manure on those and a million "things" seem to live in the straw layer that is now on top. Keeps the blackbirds and other birds occupied all day so I guess it will do for ducklings as well.
There will not be much food in the pond because it is only small (4 ft x 3ft x 2 ft deep)and recently established. The onlyu thing in was a few taddies and they are now mini frogs somewhere. The duckies had better NOT eat my wife's mini frogs - she has been nurturing them through from the tadpole stage.
I tried making up a food supply (prawns/ crab stick and some sweet corn mixed in the blender with a little milk and bread). They ignored it and continued to peck at the lawn. OK, I tried. I must go and move it in case the fishy smell attracts any cats.
Watch out for tomorrow's exciting installments