24 hours since first external pip....

Little bit is doing better.
It is hard work to be stuck in an egg.

Soon it will be hard to tell them apart.

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Adorable but nasty. It is a good thing they are cute. Tomorrow I'll move them to my outdoor brooder, above the big kids.

The big kids are 3 weeks old and starting to get their feathers. Gosh, seems like longer than three weeks. 3.5 actually. Anyhoo, the bigs are still terrified of me. They don't identify me as the bringer of fresh water and treats.

At what age will they be old enough to go swimming in the pond? Right now they have their drinking water with B-12 Complex added refreshed 2x/day and a 2' x 3.5' rubbermaid bin that I put a about 4" of water in. They are looking too big for the rubbermaid bin but not feathered enough to swim in the pond.

Then there is the question of how to get them to the pond since they are terrified of me. It is about 50 yards from the duck pen to the pond. It would be nice if they would follow me back and forth but I don't see that happening any time soon. :(
 
Adorable but nasty. It is a good thing they are cute. Tomorrow I'll move them to my outdoor brooder, above the big kids.

The big kids are 3 weeks old and starting to get their feathers. Gosh, seems like longer than three weeks. 3.5 actually. Anyhoo, the bigs are still terrified of me. They don't identify me as the bringer of fresh water and treats.

At what age will they be old enough to go swimming in the pond? Right now they have their drinking water with B-12 Complex added refreshed 2x/day and a 2' x 3.5' rubbermaid bin that I put a about 4" of water in. They are looking too big for the rubbermaid bin but not feathered enough to swim in the pond.

Then there is the question of how to get them to the pond since they are terrified of me. It is about 50 yards from the duck pen to the pond. It would be nice if they would follow me back and forth but I don't see that happening any time soon. :(
I say they are plenty big enough to swim in the pond but I don't know a thing about ducks. I put Street to swim in the baby pool on day three.:confused:

Would you be able to go in after them if needed?
 
Are you talking about a real pond ? I think they are still too young for a big real pond ? What about snapping turtles or flying predators. A small kiddy pool with a safe way in and out would be nice for now.
Eventually, yes, I want them on the big pond. Not until they are full grown tho. I just don't know how to introduce them to it when the time comes and still be able to get them to go home at night to be safe. Wild geese have raised two clutches of seven babies over the last two years with no problems from snappers. I know we have lots of red ears but I've only seen one snapper and he was removed from the environment. When they are full grown I won't worry about hawks.

I say they are plenty big enough to swim in the pond but I don't know a thing about ducks. I put Street to swim in the baby pool on day three.:confused:

Would you be able to go in after them if needed?

Yeah, they hit the rubbermaid at a week. I was skeerd before that. But they are outgrowing it. Their house is a 10 x 10 retriever dog run from Tractor Supply with some plywood embellishments. I'm thinking I can take out the little panel that allows for a dog house and make a fenced yard around a baby pool until they are big enough for the real pond. And no way in hell i'm going into any body of water where I can't see my feet. I'm not a duck! :oops:
 
Your going to have to work on getting them to trust you and treats are the best way. You start out in a small fenced in area just being there maybe working around them digging up worms boy my ducks go crazy when they see me get the shovel or start turning over rocks looking for worms once you get them use to you you always feed them in the same place where you want them to be at night even treats are given out at their run at their house ,after you get them use to you and respoding to you then you can try your hand at herding them but to get them off the pond at dusk your going to have to really work on that one maybe once big enough only feed them in the afternoon so they come up to their house/run to eat then close them in the run so they are ready for bed . I have seen many on here once they let their ducks into a pond not being able to get them home safe and secure. Treats are always in the same container you either have a special whistle or words that they get use to and shake the dickens out of the can while doing it they love repetition so they can be trained.
 

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