Hi it was pretty easy in the beginning. I kept the duck in a outside enclsure connected to the barn along with the chickens. After awhile we began leaving the door open to give them a chance to be in and out. Eventually the duck was so used to be with the chickens that she went with,. It helped that we put scratch grains outside the pen. I found that the duck if found water hated to go back early. Eventually though before dark it would head back. We eventually added more ducks and 3 geese to the group. Theya ll now go back before dark. The others taught the new guys. First thing in morning they go out and know there limits and than come back in at night or if its too hot. We have straw on barn floor and we had a old feeding trough that we left and made sure chickens could not get hurt added straw and than have 2 4 hole nest boxes. I did learn that we let them stay out as late as possible as we have pools they swim and drink out plus our waterer is out there. If left inside the ducks make a wet nasty mess. Winter though makes it tougher for me as they need water.I just make sure I sit it on one of those heated pans made for metal waters near the door so that the whole barn is not wet. saves me from having to change all the straw thru out. It also helps that I keep a heat lamp in the winter in that area high above so it does not get splashed and it helps dry out area a little, Hope that helps if not you can e-mail me. Patricia

Oh, Judy AG. Thank you for putting your experience with Goosagoose here for us all to read. I just love hearing about animals and birds and their people. I'm sure she is happy living the goose life somewhere. :) We've seen a single lone mallard flying over the yard and house several times and Mr. Flappers makes all kinds of noise when this happens. It very well could be Mr. Flippers. But it's been a week or more since we saw this last. Now Mr. Flappers goes into the chicken house every night and sleeps in the dark space under the nest boxes. During the day he is the constant companion of my bottom of the pecking order Barred Rock. She's been broody over her nest full of infertile eggs and he stays right beside her. I go and get her off the nest and remove the eggs before they turn into egg bombs and pretty soon she's right back at it again. They eat together and drink together. He seems sort of puzzled when she doesn't get into the water with him though. He spashes like crazy and makes all kinds of noise and she scoots away from the water until he's finished and gives up trying to get her in there with him. I contacted someone from 4-H who said he could probably find a duck or two for me, but he hasn't called back yet. I'll call him again this week. I tried the humane society and they said that 3 ducks were brought in in March and that they'd taken them to their ranch in the mountains and that they'd just "disapeared". I was so mad at them I could have spit! I asked them if these were DOMESTIC ducks and they said that they were. I suppose I could have raised the issue of coyotes and bobcats, mountain lions, hawks and eagles... What would be the point though. We'll have a friend for Mr. Flappers soon, I'm sure and hopefully more than one. Thank you all. :)) chickenmama1

lol Karyn, with all your babies, if she went to your house, she'd never wanna leave! I like having rabbits, but I have only ever had one that was really worth it, I got him when he was teeny tiny, my brother who worked at a pet store rescued him from being fed to the snakes and gave him to me. He was litter trained, and just the friendliest, furriest big cuddly black blob of a bunny. He was big, lol almost 20 lbs. Was so sad when he died, had some kinda seizure and he died in my arms. I buried him in my baby blanket..yes I had saved it for a long time, lol. No others ever compared to him. Theresa, dont ya love surprises like that? Glad you had your cam handy to get a pic! When I get my pond going I plan on puttin some frogs, toads, salamanders n such out there, wonder if any will stay. Maybe a turtle. I'm just gonna take a walk & go huntin in the woods and see what I can find. Hopefully some tadpoles! Daniella

Karen...Love the Purple Wig ...I see it's a $6.95 GW Special! But to tell you the truth....the hair on that Wig doesn't look like it has ...'any body' !! kathleen... :) glad you agree! bulldinkie..lol.. he does sound scary... I usually forget when things have 'sensors' in them and they end up scaring 'me'! jane