Trying to comment I live in Alaska. Have had to take on flock that was being fed by woman who passed away this summer. First about 50 ducks now down to small group. Winter right now so guessing food is scarce. They eat the sunflower seeds that fell from bird feeder until I read about woman passing. Hoping they all survive but not trying to encourage to stay. Wildlife people say don't feed them but have over 2 feet of snow and other birds showing up. Hard not buy their food. Love to see them but they are spooked to see me at the window after this summer them stalking, staring at my house. School bus glad they don't stay all as they were stopping traffic this summer. Hoping for their survival. Loved all posts here. You guys are awesome!

Thanks for all your info. I find all info about ducks to be fascinating. I spend "down on the ground" time with my ducks, so I see a lot of them close up. Mr. Flippers still has iridescent tiny green feathers on the top of his head. The sides of his head are turning dark like the top of his head, though no green plumage there yet. The stripe that extends from his bill, across his eye, is getting very dark too and seems to be wider almost each day. Today he has little fluffy white feathers (?) on one side of his neck, near where it joins with his body. His breast is the most beautiful shade of rust or light brick reddish. Each feather is beautiful. Each one is outlined in black. He has a double row of white feathers on his wings, with what looks like black between them. His bill is almost totally flesh colored with a hint of yellow-very small hint of yellow. He only has a slight bit of black on the tip of his bill and a very narrow strip of black up the middle of his bill with a little black at the top of his bill. When he walks through the grass he holds his little body down as close to the grass as he can and he walks very slowly while looking from side to side and up in the sky. He makes a deep almost clicking sound now along with what sounds like baby duck "cheeping" or slight "whistling". No. I don't think he's a Whistler! :) Sometimes he says, "unk" or something like that. I guess I'll need an interpreter for this duck talk. I mostly let him teach me about himself. I know how to help him grow, but he's teaching me about ducks. Mr. Flappers is HUGE! He's beginning to get his "blue" feathers now and he has beautiful yellow/white feathers on his breast. These feathers are so fine that they look as though they've been air brushed onto his breast. He's sweet and is still such a baby. He loves to cuddle. He's just a perfect little friend for Mr. Flippers. Their talk together and the way they touch their bills together as they eat, and how they cross their necks when they lay down... They are so VERY pretty! Only one problem so far: Mr. Flappers, the Blue Swedish, bit my wolf hybrid dog on the nose. My dog looked at me like his feelings were so hurt and he walked away, went into the house and laid down in his favorite corner. I know he never expected that. Since then he doesn't look at Mr. Flappers and he doesn't come near him any longer. These kinds of dogs have the most gentle ways and he has always helped raise the "babies" and he's always been friends with the chickens when they're grown up. I feel sorry for him. I've been hugging him and talking to him a whole lot more. He's very quiet now. I hope he'll get over it in a few days, but he usually stays sad for a long time and he seems to remember things. When our 19 year old Siamese cat died, he went into deep, deep mourning. We had to pull him out of it by making him go for rides and making him go for walks. It took him a long time. He's getting old now. He's about 10 y/o. I will make him take a nap with me now. This duck stuff is exhausting! :)

I have 7 10 week old Mallards (4 male 3 female). I've had them since they were 3 days old. I live where I have access to a lake and my neighbors are ON the lake. Yesterday I took my ducks down to their property and slowly let my ducks out of their dog crate. Two flew into the lake and were swimming back to me when two Pekin ducks showed up. As my ducks were swimming back and almost to the bank these two white ducks each took my ducks grabbed them by the neck, twisted their necks and shoved their heads under water then pushed on my ducks until they were under water! We threw stuff at the white ducks until they turned loose of my mallards. My ducks flew up onto where I was and waddled as fast as they could to their crate. Will ducks kill other ducks??? Mine are still young but I'm hoping when they get older I will be able to release them so they can enjoy the lake etc. They can come home at night if they want but I want them to have the lake during the day. Is this going to be possible? Anyone out there know details on duck behavior? Thanks!!!

Don't worry Doodle, you will get the hang of it. :) You remind me so much of myself 10 years ago. Dh and his ex married due to pregnancy off a post break up "hook up", had an admittedly bad and angry 2 years of marriage, decided to divorce, she moved hours away with their daughter, each started dating. Suddenly ex decided they needed to try again. DH refused, divorce was done. Enter me, who wanted the same fairy tale. I was gung ho to be a great step mom, BM's best bud and have us all raise SD together. Side note - I have known DH and his ex since days after they married and ex and I got along fine until I started dating her ex husband. Fast forward past YEARS of ugliness, a custody fight which DH won (and that made everything 1000 times worse) so much hatred, venom, and competition - all shared with SD by her mom - until the last 4 months when she seems to have reached a place where she can *handle* me and my role in her daughter's life. True we have had these breakthroughs periodically in the past and they have never lasted, but this is the longest one and I'm hoping it lasts. I've never given up all hope of us being friends and raising my SD together. You have a big heart that is in the right place. This is all still fresh and new to everyone. My well learned advice is baby steps. Don't go for the fairy tale right now - just aim for one good day, and then the next good day. All things with time . . . .