Not your typical place
I have not posted photos in awhile. So I uploaded these to share.
I was going through photos and stumbles upon these. I figured that these are share worthy. The llamas in the red halter was when we where trying to get them to behave for a photo shoot. Then the cat pictures where, well there is no need to have an excuse for cat pictures. Look how majestic they look! Also, everyone needs to hold a a chicken every now an then. Either raw and kicking or fried….
It has been another exciting week for the new baby ducklings. Â They have grown so large now. I can find personality differences in each duckling. Also this week we had no prison breakouts but someone did break into the prison! But over all it has been a wonderful week.
We have filled up the baby pool this week. It took a little while to convince all the ducks to go for a swim. The mother ducks hopped right in. They loved having a proper bath after all this time. The little ducklings used the ramp to get into the pool but wanted to try to hop in as their mothers do. That did not go so well. Some did copy the adults by dipping their head into the water without getting in.
A few of the kiddos could dive under the water and pop up at random locations. This scared the mothers as the ducklings would dive under them and chase the mothers out of the pool. I guess that is one way to get more room to swim.
One morning this past week I did find a chicken who broke into the prison. One of the Buffs decided it was nicer on that side of the fence. I guess it wasn’t all that nice as she was fine with me throwing her back to the right side of the fence. But at least the ducklings had their first face to face encounter with a chicken and not through a prison fence.
Finally the ducklings are starting to get used to us. They are not hiding behind their mothers as much. I can be in the pen to change the water and some of the ducklings will come close to me.
The ducklings are getting big! They seem to be about 1/3 the size of the mothers. The little fluff balls are now entering that awkward stage. 
Tail feathers are starting to come in. Next it will be the wing feathers. Soon they we will get to see the final color combinations. I still wonder about that black/yellow one. It must be mixed with a wild mallard.
The ducklings are 1 week old, and they have already doubled in size! Â 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. Â 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. Â 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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