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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