Keeping a watchful and documented eye on a newly born Muscovy clutch

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

Awww, poor Momma. I hope she pulls through. Any way of doing a rescue on her instead of field care?

Its not off the table but taking in any ducks is literally the last resort and only an option if I am convinced they would die otherwise. Mama duck has a reasonable chance of pulling through naturally especially with the medicine she received. (Vetericyn Poultry Care Spray, Brewers yeast coated peas) and seeing her improve a little as the evening continued. Local laws also heavily limit what I can and can't do.

Tomorrow will likely reveal where this sorts out but I remain flexible depending on how she looks.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

September 30th: (Day 19, 7 ducklings)


Mama duck is holding serve and looking a little bit better today. All ducklings accounted for. Gave her more medicine (much to her dismay lol). She didn't send her ducklings into a panic like yesterday when I grabbed her but I did get some looks afterward


Hold steady soldiers. Captain mama is bent but not broken. Shes hangin in there!!

Ducklings didn't like it when I grabbed mama and I got some stern eyes!

Then they decided to display a show of force.

At ease soldiers!

Time to rest and heal. I sat with them an hour or so. Eventually she moved back to the waters edge to forage and swim.

Finally. A boring day....

 

[Imndixie]

My hearts hurts for Mama duck! I know it's mother nature but dang those pesky varmints! Praying for her & babies!

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 1st: (Day 20, 7 ducklings)


Today was another well needed boring day for our duck family but an eventful one for the ducks overall at the lake. Once again we gave mama and the ducklings some more medicine.

The soldiers press on through hardship. Captain Mama continues to hobble through it and keep her troops safe.

Keep watch troops!

LET ME SEE YOUR WAR FACE

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

As for the rest of the adult ducks... One of them is in real bad shape (much worse than mama). We gave it some medicine but theres a risk she dies. She is sitting on some eggs about 18 days old. Both of her sides are ripped pretty bad. I suspect whatever attacked mama probably got this one. She had to defend a nest so she couldn't just run. Im gonna keep an eye on her and if she does succumb to her injuries I *might* try to save the eggs.

This might actually be aunt to our ducklings. They and mama were hanging around her a lot this morning as you can see one duckling in the picture.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 2nd: (Day 21, 7 ducklings) 3 weeks!!!



Another good boring day on the lake. Mama continues to heal but she is still limping. The other adult duck I posted about yesterday is still alive and also has seemed to heal quite a bit. I took a closer look at her nest and it seems most of the eggs are crushed/broken unfortunately. Maybe 2 or 3 left are still whole. Hopefully they make it.

Our duck family continues to get bigger and bigger.



Little ducklings at ease

21 days in and I still can't tell them apart lol

My camera got pecked.
...

Worth it

After a nice peaceful day, Mama and babies snuggle up for some rest

 

[Canadian Wind]

I absolutely love your pictures.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 3rd: (Day 22, 7 ducklings)


Short update today, Had a bunch of stuff going on. Mama has healed tremendously and is now walking without a limp. Shes a bit slow but is now back on her normal paths.

Ducklings are doing good. The Aunt that was injured unfortunately abandoned her nest and (presumably) finished off the two-three eggs she had left. The good news however is she also has healed very fast and seems normal.

I heard from a neighbor that they had to fend off a hawk/eagle attack but did so successfully.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

I absolutely love your pictures.

Thank you. I am kind of taking advantage of the fact that some neighbors here are feeding them and they have grown very fond of humans in the three weeks they've been alive. Every time I walk up they run up and chirp at me. Only reinforced when I had to feed them a couple days to give them and mama medicine after the incident.

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 4th: (Day 23, 7 ducklings)



Mama duck looks completely healed and walking without a limp. Onto the pictures!


Soldiers stand at attention

BIG BIRD 12' O CLOCK. EYES OPEN!!!...
oh wait...
thats a helicopter
False alarm.

Mama stretches and gets the kinks out

A picture worth a thousand words

Lets see if we can compare their growth progress so far. I used these two photos as they are the most similar.

10-1-24:

Day 1:

 

[Muscovy Duck Chronicles]

October 5th: (Day 24, 7 ducklings)

Nothing really of note for today. More pictures!

I walked up on them eating some grain left by another human on the premises. The soldiers stood watch for predators. Captain Mama's little helpers?

Soldiers under attack!!!

Captain Mama joins the frey and defends her soldiers!

Oh yea, Captain Mama is back and she isn't taking any shit

Off for new adventures. She seems to be taking them to more unique locations around the lake.

Bonus pic: These were born just 3 months ago in early July. The one on the bottom left is our repeat peck offender. They just finally left mom but still follow around all the humans. I actually babysat these three a few times. Mama had a human that would come by and feed her every day around 7pm. So she'd fly away and leave the babies on the riverbank for 30 minutes or so and Id sit with them making sure predators did not get them. They were about as old as our duckling family is now.

One is not like the others. Somehow a baby wood duck snuck into their small clutch. Had I known what I know now I would've grabbed it and relocated it. Unfortunately it did not survive. The other babies and mama pecked at it. It disappeared a couple days after this photo. The other three grew up into the young adults in the picture above.