You can boo if you want to, but the local wild life has to eat to survive too, owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes would all benefit from a healthy meal of duck. I know it sounds cold-hearted, but remember that natures balance depends on the predators survival as well as animals who rank lower on the food chain. And a (formerly) pampered pet would be easy game to a predator. "Fish gotta swim, birds gotta eat," - the helpful pelecan in 'Finding Nemo'. I don't think eye pecking is a mating ritual, it's aberrant behavior probably brought on by overcrowding and possibly by competition among the males. If releasing them into the wild is cruel, why don't you think allowing them to peck the eyes out of the females is cruel? I bet those female ducks would agree with me, if they had a vote on the issue. Cheryl

Did you see my post on violent duck mating? It's on page two right now. Anyway I had to get rid of three males because they pecked my one females eyes so bad they got infected.I thought she would be blind but she has healed and has at least Partial sight. They can be quite tough! And need we say how tough the broody girls get!? My sons noticed how quiet it was on the pond. It is because I reduced the male population to only two.If they start up it will go to one!

Thanks for sharing your duck story 13 years ago. We just moved into an apartment with a duck pond 50' from our back porch and it's got all different kinds of ducks and geese. The ducks are nicer and there are different ones, ratty ones, mean ones, wussy ones, skinny ones, fat ones...very often a new gang of teenie tiny ones under mom's feets. They're always fighin for territory or humpin each other. It is quite the backyard reality show. The geese are another story, there is this one that looks different than the rest and he's always causing trouble with the ducks. He's the alpha goose and he doesn't let anyone forget it for a minute. Somebody needs to mess his 6.75lb feathered butt up. Alpha goose pic included.

Our "front door" (its on the side of the house with a small patio IS clearly labeled and easy to see. His front door however just has his mailbox with a faded name and his number. UPS is putting "missed" notices on his door. He however is not putting them on our door. Nor is he directing the UPS man to the correct door. The only way I see the missed labels is because I had to "sneak" up to his front door to grab a package (that was for me) off his front stoop. They knock..BANG very hard on his door (I don't think he has a doorbell) and he does not answer. I believe he does not answer for three reasons. 1. He has his music/porn (yes it has started again) up so loud he can't hear them. 2. He has gone deaf 3. He is just inconsiderate (if he WAS considerate, he would walk the couple of feet to stick the missed notice on OUR door). I called UPS and got transfered to soo many people, frankly I just gave up. I have displayed a GIANT poster sized sign in the office window (which is next to his front door) for UPS. Now excuse me, I have to call my Landlord AGAIN. The violent porn has started at a very alarming volume.