Stalag-tight security for T&Q

THERE seems to be growing concern about the safety of our ducklings, Tich and Quackers (aka T&Q).

A good friend wrote: "My mother wants to know what happens to Tich and Quackers at night and where does mother sleep? Will a fox eat their mother, turning T&Q into orphans?"

EAT UP: My wife tries to coax Rosemary to eat; one duckling is under her body, the other is not so camera-shy

STALAG TIGHT: High security keeps the foxes out

VE 'av vays, so rest assured, Mrs S. The ducklings are being well cared for by Rosemary, their surrogate mother. They all sleep together in a small enclosure, within another larger secure compound. There are three layers of wire netting on each side and a layer of strong netting over the top to prevent agile predators getting in (we hope).
At night we put them in a straw-laden wooden box with a removable lid, and the ducklings tend to tuck themselves under Rosemary's wings or under her body when they sleep. In fact, their mum could be described as a cosy 25-tog duvet (no duck down, of course).
I would think it is almost as secure as a Stalag, although there are no guards, with heavy German accents, on the perimeters. We do have powerful security lights and my wife and I are frequent visitors, so I suppose we could be classed as the security even though our German is not too good.
According to the Third Geneva Convention (1929), such camps were only for prisoners of war, not bantams and ducklings, but you get ze picture, ja?

Tich and Quackers leave us shell-shocked

TICH and Quackers, our Indian Runner ducklings, finally made an appearance sometime yesterday afternoon. We're still in shock. Some would say shell-shocked. Aren't they brilliant? More to follow soon.

UPDATE: Tich and Quackers appear to be strong, healthy ducklings who are well cared for by Rosemary. They are inquisitive little characters who eat well, drink plenty and love to splash about in their bowl of water as well as drink from it. They do look comical when preening themselves after a dip but they are much more steady on their feet. They looked like a couple of fluffy drunks staggering about for the first 24 hours or so. Mum watches them constantly, wondering no doubt, about the antics of her babies - and her own identity. Still, she is turning out to be a great parent but we do have concerns because she is eating very little at the moment. Something new to worry about.

Duckling alert! Let the wisequacks begin

SHALL we dispense with the wisequacks from the start? It wasn't quite the quack of dawn, but my wife and I were up very early this morning because are expecting a couple of new additions to the family. Ducklings.

CLICK (or cluck) ON THE PHOTO: Rosemary with her duck eggs

Rosemary, our broody Pekin Bantam, is about to become a surrogate mum to a pair of Indian Runner Ducks after sitting on the eggs for almost a month. The idea was suggested by a neighbour, a.k.a. Greengrass, who told us broody bantams make brilliant mothers. Our three ducks don't seem remotely interested in the eggs they lay so it seemed like a good idea to try for some young 'uns with Rosemary.

We had given up hope with the experiment until yesterday when my wife noticed that cracks were appearing in the egg shells ... and the nerves are now beginning to kick in.

We dashed down again this morning to see if the ducklings had emerged but nothing as yet. The cracks in the eggs are significantly bigger and we can see movement. It's a question of wait and see, I suppose.

STAND-OFF: Sir Francis, our protective drake, can
often be seen chasing away wood pigeons if they
have the audacity to land anywhere near his harem.
This bold intruder decided to sit it out on the fence,
much to Francis's displeasure

Mum and babies will have their own maternity area - we're a little worried that the other bantams might become jealous - so we have made alternative arrangements and they will have their own home and pen, within the main hen section. And if Rosemary rejects the babies then we will use the utility room in our house, which stays very warm because of the central heating boiler.

In the meantime, a few items I found after a brief search on the, err, Web.

'Put it on the bill,' said the duck to the bartender.
Who stole the bathroom soap? The robber duck.
Why do ducks watch the news? For the feather forecast.
Where do ducks go when they are ill? To see the ducktor ... to see the Quack.

No, I can't go on. I'll keep you posted.