Look who's visiting.......

Last year we had four Tree ducks or Whistler ducks as they are also called, visit our ducks. They would fly into the trees and watch them, or sit on top of their pen.
This year they are back. We have had as many as 7 of them. This picture is of some on the pond. They are very pretty and interesting birds. They are small and fly very well, they have been in the tops of some trees. Most often there are 3 of them here, and we call them Moe, Curley and Larry (Three Stooges). Then when 4 more showed up the other day, we called them Betty Joe, Bobby Joe, Billy Joe and Uncle Joe. (from Petticoat Junction).

Thought you all might enjoy seeing pictures of them.

another picture. By the way, we have had little to no rain, so this part of the pond is VERY low.

Wow! They are cool.. I've never seen them before.. and funny how much they all look alike.. long legged ducks there! Thank you for sharing.. You are blessed to have such wonderful visitors!

One more...

Not sure who is male and who is female, they don't have male feathers like regular ducks, and they are all the same color. My son read about them and it said they normally travel in 2's or 3's with one male and two females or if only two it will be a male and female. Very interesting animals.

They're very pretty! I'm so glad you posted pics, I've never seen one before.

Ive never seen these before either! Thanks for sharing, you are very lucky to have such cute visitors! I didnt know ducks could have such long legs!

Ah Ha!!! Caught yall. If you haven't seen these before that means you haven't looked at my web albums I posted lol. http://pets.webshots.com/album/562207564unUUlW

Those are Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks. I just shipped mine off yesterday to Kentucky. I have decided downsize and to just keep the smaller breeds of Exotics and get rid of my Whistler except for the White-faced for the time being. They are most active at night and make lots of noises talking to each other. They are a pleasure to watch and listen too.
I got rid of my European Shelducks right before Christmas

Donna can you tell us which are males and females?

OH MY GOSH!! No, I haven't seen that photo album... but it is awesome! I didn't even know there WERE those types of ducks! (exposing ignorance here) Donna, that is so amazing.. I really enjoyed the pictures!! You should post some here.. What a pleasure that was.. Thank you!

only by vent sexing or seeing them breed. I have mine marked with different color leg bands since I am not good at sexing so when I see them doing the deed I write down what color is drake & hen. All Darkes & hens of each breed of whistlers look the same and they do not molt. I do notice the hen of my white-faced seems a little smaller

You're right Donna, they are a pleasure to listen to, they make a most interesting sound.

Wow Donna, you should have kept those, cause you could have sold us all some eggs today. :) Seriously though, you are all into the ducks, and they are lovely! I don't remember you sharing pictures lately of them. The white faced whistling ducks remind me of panda bears. How adorable is that? I'm sure they cost a pretty penny too.

When asked about swapping chickens and eggs someone, I think it was Z, said we do that already. That was news to me. So, is it appropriate of me if I see somebody with something I'd like to have to DMail them, and ask? I have hinted to Zz twice now about those blue eggs, and notice she doesn't answer me. :D lol I was too cowardly to Dmail her. Guess I just don't want to upset the apple cart. When you start mixing business with pleasure it sometimes can tip over. So, is it appropriate for people on here to say, I have such and so for sale on .. whatever auction site? I have never seen anyone do that here, but I don't see how it would be wrong just to mention, but I don't know all the rules on DG.

L_F_J I am sorry for ignoring you.. I just don't have Large Fowl eggs to offer. Only bantam.. I don't sell for a biz, in fact, I don't even sell eggs now.. I'm just a person.. :) You are welcome to Dmail me anytime! I wasn't avoiding anything on purpose. I wouldn't do that.

I did see one time you wanted Aracauna.. I don't have those. I think Donna does.. I'm not sure if she sells?

About swapping already? I just meant that we would.. or have... LOL Or could.. and don't see the need for a forum specifically for egg & poultry trading. The price of shipping just doesn't really warrant it.

If I were selling eggs on another site, I would not be allowed to advertise them for sale here, that would be considered soliciting. I could, probably mention if I were selling in the marketplace here on DG.. I think.. Not 100% sure on that..

LFJ: There isn't anything wrong with asking another member if they would ship and sell something you really would like to have. It's just most of us are hobbist's rather than doing it for a business...By all means...Hay

Gosh Donna I never knew about your web site, there has been so many times I have wanted to see your exotic ducks but did not want to bother you...I'm on my way right now...LOL...Hay

Smedge those are wonderful pictures. I have never seen them before, nor heard of them...I love learning new things and when it comes with pictures I even love it more...Hay

well didn't mean public offer for free eggs for postage but in private. If offered for free in public you will get a hundred people wanting them. It is just something I do privately if I see a friends wants something I have. Yes I have bantam Araucana and now a trio of LF Silver Ameracuana. LFJ you may contact me as well but with only 2 hens and both don't always lay everyday it won't be many eggs for them to be fresh

Donna, Shame on you for not sharing that Website before. Wonderful pictures. I could have looked for hours. I wanna come to your house. Those Teal, and hottentots, and that Mandrin Drake is incredible. I would love to have a pair of those, all of those. They are incredible cute and beautiful...Donna you really have good taste in my opinion...Hay

here is what the Black-bellied Whistlers sound like
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/black-bellied-whistling-duck
My Fulvous Whistlers
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/fulvous-whistling-duck
My Common Goldeneyes
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/common-goldeneye
My Cinnamon Teal
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/cinnamon-teal
My Northern Shovelers
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/northern-shoveler

Hay my Exotic Ducks are my first loves. I had them for 3 yrs before the chickens lol. They give me so much peace. When the weather is nice I sit out there inside the Aviary and watch them when I rest from my puttering around

I love those sound also, Donna I would love to see more pic's of your aviaries, how you house them and everything else. They are really beautiful and I can see how you really love them...I was also surprised at how little they weigh...Hay

Donna, thanks for the links. We often have whistlers flying over and I always thought they were Black-Bellies. Now I know they are.

Zz what are your lavender bantams? Hope you know I was just having some fun with you, but I really do like the lavenders, whatever they are. Such beautiful birds and eggs. Probably I should stick to my silkies and go forward with them.

Ok so no soliciting. I can understand that, as there are some people that just do things solely for the money. Nothing wrong with that, but this would not be the place for it. So I see the point.

Guess that's why I said I would probably not dmail someone even if they had some birds or eggs I might want. I do like to watch the auctions and see what is being sold and for how much though.

I still feel bad at times for giving those red silkies away, so I doubt I am someone that can sell birds. I see nothing wrong with it, it helps everyone really, and nothing wrong with making money from it as well. The more people with fresh chicken and duck eggs the better for us all.

Let's just relax and have fun shall we?

wow thanks for the pictures smedg ! I didentnow there were so many diffrent types of ducks eather.I really enjoyed seeing those pictures.
Donna my DH is going to go nuts when i show him some of the ducks you have ! He has runners,blue swedish,pekin,miscovy,ruen, and soon to have khaki cambells and silver appleyards. We tryed Mandarian's last year but they broke out of the pen we never got them back. We are getting some more this year tho and have fixed up the flight! They wont get away this time giggle. I love the smaller duck's they seem to be so much more colorful.

WOW DONNA how did i miss that album before? Do you keep the ducks in a comunity avery? do they ever mix? I would love to have some of those breeds! I think im going to have to do some homework. I have a friend who build koi ponds so im sure we could figure out a pond and filter system that would work to keep a comunity avery clean.Do you seperate them during breeding season? I see a major project in my future.IM already figuring out where to put a flight that big.

This message was edited Apr 18, 2011 10:36 PM

Donna's ducks live in the duck Hilton. I don't remember the thread with the pictures, but they lack for nothing.