Duck & ducklings in our pond!

[Karen]

It's okay, Lut, I moved it into General for you!
How interesting that some of the ducklings are yellow and some brown - is it the gender difference?

[phesina]

Oh, aren't they pretty! And what a lot of them!

Good question: why are some yellow and some brown?

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh my gosh, so cute! Thanks for sharing your ducklings Lut!

[Karen]

Oh, aren't they pretty! And what a lot of them!

Good question: why are some yellow and some brown?

Some birds are "sex-linked" - the males and females have different coloration as baby chicks!

[Catty1]

What gorgeous babies! And doesn't mother duck look proud when she is walking on land!

Did you say she had 13 babies? WOW!

They are so cute, thanks for sharing!

[Bonny]

What a cute duck family. Mom has a lot of ducklings to care for.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

It's okay, Lut, I moved it into General for you!
How interesting that some of the ducklings are yellow and some brown - is it the gender difference?

Thanks Karen!
The color of the ducklings is either yellow or brown, but this has nothing to do with their gender. Yellow ones turn white as they grow up, and the brown ones stay brown.
Bad news though today....! Yesterday mom duck was walking on the lawn with her 10 kids (13 eggs, but only 10 hatched). Suddenly she was scared to death by Zazou and Maya. She hurried older the bushes and found a hole to the backyard of our neighbors, together with the little ones.
We don't know what happened, but this morning she was back on the pond, together with only ............ 2 ducklings.....
Poor mom..... . Lets hope she can keep these 2 !!
We think that some large birds and rats got the other 8 ...! Well, that's nature hey, nature can be very cruel....

[redbird]

They are so adorable.

[kuhio98]

Beautiful family. Thank you for sharing the photos.

Do the kitties ever try to catch them? Kuhio brought home a baby goose one time. It was almost as big as her! She had a very hard time getting it through the kitty door and was most displeased when we took it away from her.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Beautiful family. Thank you for sharing the photos.

Do the kitties ever try to catch them? Kuhio brought home a baby goose one time. It was almost as big as her! She had a very hard time getting it through the kitty door and was most displeased when we took it away from her.

Zazou & Maya both tried to catch one of the ducklings. Maya didn't dare trying that once more, because mom duck was so angry that first time, as she picked on Maya for her trying to catch one of her babies...! Zazou also tried. She was hiding behind a bush where she knew the ducks family would pass by. When they finally moved her way, she jumped onto the group of ducklings, who scattered in all directions...! When next day Zazou was waiting there again, mom duck left our garden with her kids...

Bad news again: mom duck has lost all ducklings; she was swimming on the pond today, looking everywhere in search for them....

[Karen]

Aww, how sad! Duckling are so fragile, and prey for so many animals. Our condolences, Mama duck!

[Cataholic]

I was afraid something horrible would happen to them. Nature is so very cruel. RIP, beautiful little babies. I am so sorry.