10 Baby Wood Ducks (1st thought they were Mallards)

[ThreeOfSeven]

It's been chilly here, even getting down to high-40s at night, and I've been having such guilt that they don't have a warm snuggle-space. When it gets really cold, I enclose the runs with plastic to keep out the snow and biting winds.

I noticed that DH didn't add a lip. I can do that later after I add the extra panels. Just happy DH finally got it together. (He builds houses, etc. If he was a cobbler, I'd be barefoot. <grin>)

 

[Miss Lydia]

lol that’s funny. He did a great job in building it. I’ve had to add lips to many a project around here. That part is easy.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I can handle the chop saw and the table saw, and I have my own cordless drill. Watch out world!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I do to maybe we should start our own construction company! I’d have to be helper I’ve built things but they are best kept in the coop!

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Can't say I really *build* anything. If I did, DH would get a good laugh. I'm much better at ripping out weeds in the garden and yard. Good physical labor that is sometimes good for the soul.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I’ll give us credit for trying. I love my cordless drill an scrap wood? How do people live with out either

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I love scrap wood!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Looking good. Glad to hear they are still doing well.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Here's a little update and pics of the kids.

They're doing great! A few weeks ago, I finally blended my two coops (2 aged hens with 9 six-mos old pullets), and that meant that the ducks had to pass muster with the 2 curmudgeon hens. I have to admit that it went pretty well. My hens hardly gave the ducks a second glance. Fencing separated the two flocks/runs, and they were side-by-side for 3+ months.

The best part of this move was giving the "kids" a chance to enjoy the outside run (hawk safe with netting). To access the outside run, the kids had to go into the hens' coop (ramp) and jump out a side door. No problem there, but I wasn't sure about the ducks. Silly me! They had it all figured out by day #2.

Then I thought, "Surely, they'll want to fly away and be free." Wrong again. They just wanted to be with their "chicken family," and they love the outside pen. I put out water for them using a small 3-gallon feed tub. It fits 3 ducks at once. LOL! And I can always tell if a hawk flies too close. Everyone, chickens and ducks, are all back inside the covered runs and coops quietly cowering in a corner.

So, here are the babies, sitting on a makeshift roost (still waiting for DH to help me build real roosts). They were sharing this space with a bunch of the chickens, but the silly girls all ran to me when I went into the area.

He's so handsome!

P.S. Went to Norway recently and showed someone a picture of this boy. She said that his head coloring looked like the Northern Lights.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They look like they were painted an actually they were when they were created They are gorgeous!! Thanks so much for updating!!