A duck question...
Yes, that says "duck".
(Duck. God, that's a weird word... duck. Seems German to me, for some reason.)
JUST one.
(One duck, not one question. I never have just one question.) Thought it was a boy, named it Donny, for Donny Osmand not Donald Duck.
Then, "Donny" started laying eggs.
(Edit.... That's actually the duck's whole name, "Donny-for-Donny-Osmond-not-Donald-Duck" (and boy, do you need to be careful typing the word "duck" with the "u" so close to the "i"), because I have to explain it every time I tell somebody her name.) She's still doing it, BUT.... this time, she's built a nest and gets all quack-y and headbob-y when you go near her, yet still likes to be petted, the weirdo. Now, I don't care what that stupid red rooster of mine, Cogburn, thinks he was doing, I know that egg Donny is sitting on isn't fertilized.
But, she seems to think it is. Before, when she laid eggs, I'd get rid of them sooner than later by cleaning her cage and she never seemed to care or notice, one way or the other. But, with the nest and the behavior this time.... what do I do?
Clean the cage as usual, discarding the egg or let her sit there for the rest of her life, waiting for this egg to hatch when it's never going to (which, by the way, strikes me as a really mean thing to do, but then again, so does taking away an egg she seems so attached to)? I put her out in the yard yesterday or the day before for the whole day and she seemed kinda pissed at going out, but she did get in her pool and do her bathing thing and she settled right back down on her nest when she did come back in, but... I know a duck or goose wouldn't leave a nest unattended all day in the "wild", so I feel hinky about doing it to her now. I don't want to distress the poor, sweet thing. Bad enough I'm pissing off the parrot. I put that yak-fest big mouth (beak?) outside on the porch a few days ago.
The weather has been warm enough and breezy enough and not too cold at night for him to be out there. We can still hear him in here, but now, at least we can carry on a conversation. Anyway, ScreechyBoy screeches quite a lot.
Moreso when he needs something or sees me. I go outside a few minutes ago to get my Wipe sprayer (the spray I use on the horses to keep flies off) to refill it, preperatory to going and spraying the horses in a few minutes, and I hafta go right by
I notice his seeds are low, so I go get him fresh ones right away. I give 'em to 'im and he makes a bold attempt to get onto my arm and come out, which I can't let him do because a.) he's outside and I can't have him flying away and b.) there are no less than three Tom-cats at my feet. After I get him to give up the idea of getting out, I go get the spray bottle. As I'm coming back, he's still bitchin' and as I get close, he starts flinging all the seeds outta the bowl, right at me. So, I think he's pissed at me.
And, I don't need a depressed duck. So, how do I handle this "egg deal"?
Comments
1
to say nothing of the proximity of "D" to "F"
Posted by: Mad William Flint at June 07, 2006 01:11 PM (g/0ur)
2
True, true...
Good call.
But, I must confess, t'was the other mistake I made.
I had "Donald Dick" for a second there and that's a whole nother thaaaang.
(And, in the nano-second it took me to correct the typo, my bent brain had time to come out with, "Tim Allen's brother, maybe?"
(Tim's full name is Timothy Allen Dick.)
(Which makes me wonder if he's related to Patsy Cline's widower. His name is Charlie Dick.)
*a minute or so later*
Hey.
From eggs to dicks in less than a hundred words? This must be some kinda record, man.
Good call.
But, I must confess, t'was the other mistake I made.
I had "Donald Dick" for a second there and that's a whole nother thaaaang.
(And, in the nano-second it took me to correct the typo, my bent brain had time to come out with, "Tim Allen's brother, maybe?"
(Tim's full name is Timothy Allen Dick.)
(Which makes me wonder if he's related to Patsy Cline's widower. His name is Charlie Dick.)
*a minute or so later*
Hey.
From eggs to dicks in less than a hundred words? This must be some kinda record, man.
Posted by: Stevie at June 07, 2006 01:21 PM (ysL0H)
3
You 2 need to take this show in the road.
Posted by: Light & Dark at June 07, 2006 02:40 PM (H/KLz)
4
Or on.
Posted by: Light & Dark at June 07, 2006 02:41 PM (H/KLz)
5
Quite possibly also true, but, I still don't know what to do about egg, y'all!
Posted by: Stevie at June 07, 2006 02:53 PM (ysL0H)
6
*grin*
Posted by: Stevie at June 07, 2006 02:54 PM (ysL0H)
7
I have two female birds and they both lay eggs. Pull the eggs as soon as you notice them...it won't make a difference to the bird one way or another (plus you won't end up with it accidentally broken and stinking to high friggin heaven). As far as the strange behavior you've noticed, it's probably a mating display. Depending on how old the duck is, you may not have noticed it before if she's relatively young. My cocktiel attempts to do VERY naughty things to me when she's looking to mate ;-)
Posted by: Chablis at June 07, 2006 03:19 PM (tMoUV)
8
Thhhank you, Chablis.
I'll do that.
I'll do that.
Posted by: Stevie at June 07, 2006 03:39 PM (qWy4i)
9
No problem. I remember those "What. The. Fuck?" moments when one of my birds started regurgitating her food and trying to feed it to me years ago. Can you say "Ewwwwwww!"?
Posted by: Chablis at June 07, 2006 06:32 PM (xGKG5)
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