Category: Animals

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Ducklings are 2 weeks old!

Our Ducklings are now 2 weeks!

The ducklings are growing so fast. I feel that they triple in size over night. They have lived up to their nature and play with the water dish.

Two mommy ducks with their five ducklings. Ducklings are 2 weeks old
The prisoners 😉

We have had a few scares this past week. One of the ducklings had gotten its head stuck in the temporary fence. Luckily I found it in time to free the little thing. Another scare has been the two prison escapes.

The first escape happened in the afternoon and all 5 ducklings and the two mommy ducks where taking a stroll around the barn outside. What a surprise that was to come home to find. Luckily they were not spotted by a hawk! The second escape was one duckling. It left the prison and decided it rather take a stroll over the the chicken coop next door. Of course the mommy ducks were going crazy. We found the little duckling and returned it home.

After the escapes and the head getting stuck I lined the fencing with cardboard. This filled in the holes so no more stuck heads. Also this filled the gab under the fencing where they were getting out.

We introduced the baby ducks to swimming this week. We have filled up a baby pool with about an inch of water. Then we added a wooden ramp to allow them to get in and out of the pool. I hope this will help with keeping them from playing in their water dish.

The baby ducklings love swimming and playing in the pool. It is always so cute to watch them play. The mommy ducks also jump in and play in the pool with the little ones. Maybe later this week we will make the water deeper so they may actually swim. Who knows maybe they are born to swim. 😉 Ducklings are 2 weeks old are very entertaining to watch.

More information on ducks here

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Ducklings are 1 week old

Week One!

The ducklings are 1 week old, and they have already doubled in size!  The fuzzballs are extremely curious. They are very curious and have already escaped their pen twice. The other mommy duck has abandoned her nest, and she has taken on the mommy role for these cuties.

The two “mommies” are very protective of the ducklings. Changing out the water or replenishing the food they are wanting to charge us. The mommy ducks quacks have attracted some of the other birds. With their quack the other birds will come into the pen or near the pen and view what is happening.

The ducklings have been taught on how to forage for grubs. I catch them every now and then with their bills in the mud sifting through.  Glad this round we have done the “natural” brooding. With the duck sitting and hatching the eggs. This allows us to keep the messy ducklings in the pen.

Previous times when we would brood ducks we have them under heat lamps in a stock tank or a brooding pen. But with ducks they like to play with the water more than drinking it. This caused us having to change the bedding at least twice a day. Luckily now they are outside and it is hot out and the ducklings cannot make such a big mess. I still have to refill the waterier three times a day but I am fine with that, anything to keep them  out of the basement. 😉

All in all this has been one of the best if not thee best first week brooding we have had. They are healthy, strong, active, and just the cutest.  Hoping that the second “mommy” duck will hatch our her eggs this week but I can share this secret that we have a chicken hen sitting on a nest that she will hatch.

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Tulio and Miguel

Tulio and Miguel are enjoying the summer!

They recently had their first shearing. Also they have been getting much more friendly and have been allowing us to pet them. It since has been a joy watching them grow!

Tulio
Miguel
Miguel making friends with Sid

See more here!

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New Ducklings!

We expanded our farm family with 5 new ducklings!

Fertile Myrtle is a first time mommy with her new ducklings. She has been sharing her motherly duties with our other duck, Broody Bridget, who hopefully will hatch ducklings of her own soon!

new ducklings! Fertile Myrtle with her 5 ducklings
Fertile Myrtle with her 5 ducklings
new ducklings! Broody Bridget sharing mommy duties
Broody Bridget sharing mommy duties
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We have new Bunnies!!

We have adopted new 8 week old bunnies! Both are females. Of course we have the cutest Lion head mix Bella. She is very docile and friendly.  She love to cuddle and mow the grass.

Rex Bunny and a Lionhead bunny in a hutch. bunnies

Here, they are in their new home which will eventually be added to the three tier hutch.

Rex Bunny and a Lionhead bunny with a bucket of grain. bunnies

They have found the Llama grain!!

Rex Bunny on a bucket of Grain, bunnies

Above you will see Valerie, she is part rex and has very soft velvet fur. But don’t let the cuteness fool you! She is an escape artist. She likes to push the door open and go for a hop.

We have had them for about 3 weeks now and they are eating more than our 10lbs Rabbit Elvis. They love fresh cut grass or to play in the outdoor run. Valerie, Val, loves to climb up to your shoulders and look for more food. But it is Bella, Bell, who will sit on your chest and give you kisses.

I am confident that they will have a blast this summer! Now only if I could find a way to attach an outdoor run to the hutch…..;)

See more here!

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