Anyone good at genetics?

[70%cocoa]

Thank you, I put the babies out all night last night and today and they're doing great

That's excellent to hear!

 

[Makenzie]

Quote:

You got it in one!!!! Today I took myself to one of the local feed stores only to discover a good half-dozen Blue Swedish ducklings in their back room. Now I may be a little bit biased but there was only one there about as cute as my Pip. It was the only one with the white tipped wings like the ones Pip has. Person who told me Jumbo Pekin obviously made a mistake. I don't care, it's just something I wanted to know to have an idea of whether Pip will grow up being able to fly, adult size and weight, whether prone to any type of health problems, or any quirky behavior. Don't mind quirky behavior, have my 4-footed roommates with their own quirks added to mine. But as a first time duckling mama I'd just like to know all I can about them.

Spoke with a gentleman at the store who has a duck pond and he told me as long as the temp is above 50 it'd be fine to bring the ducklings outside so today they met the outside world. Screamed for a few minutes, hid behind a box and under the blanket draped across half the little exercise pen, then had a wonderful time until the dreaded hand reached in towards them and not only that other hands did the same thing. Had little fear of my dog. She was fascinated by them and lay right by the tiny pen with ducklings laying up against the side where she was. Squeaks was eating dirt? There are little holes where his bill was pushed into the dirt. Pip was happy attacking pieces of grass and then the two of them went crazy with the water. Cleaned and groomed themselves all nice and pretty with the same water source they have inside where they don't groom themselves all nice and pretty. They were funny to watch. And I noticed Pip wouldn't take any bullying behavior while outside which makes me hopeful. Keeping them apart makes me feel bad. Even able to see each other doesn't stop the sad and desperate cheeping.

The gentleman also said at that size they didn't need the brooder lamp anymore. Since the ducklings are still using it I am not taking that piece of advice in it's entirety. They huddle up under it together at night and until that stops they'll keep their light. I know they'll move away once it's too warm for them. Began taking food and water out at bedtime which isn't bothering them and means no cleaning the entire cage first thing in the morning. They don't even start yelling at daybreak. Instead they do it around 8am.

 

[70%cocoa]

That's a lovely photo.

Sounds like they are doing really well. You are right to take your cue from the ducklings' behaviour, as far as heat goes. If they are snuggled under the lamp, then keep using the lamp at night.

The holes in the ground were Squeaks looking for worms and bugs in the dirt, rather than actually eating the dirt. Totally normal ducky behaviour

Giving them plenty of room and things to do (like when they are outside) is a great way to address the pecking/feather pulling. Keep their little minds busy!

I think you are going to love Pip's colour when s/he grows up. Blue ducks are really beautiful to look at.

 

[Makenzie]

I just found your response. Sorry I didn't mean to be rude. I just looked at my profile and saw it shows where I've posted and unread posts.

You're right I do love how Pip looks and she isn't even full grown. Watching the colors come in on her and Squeak is an awful lot of fun. It's something I've never seen before. Like Pip still had the orange neckband one night and the next day it was white. Or the way her bill shows so blue in the sun. Right now she's got blue at the base of some of her feathers, splotches/dots of darker color that look blue in the sun, and once she learned to quack she's never stopped. I also like how her bill is tipped in pink. Squeak first had the contrasting black/brown pattern the began getting a green tint on his head in sunlight and right now has vivid blue stripes on both sides of his body.

As messy and as much work as they are when babies I thought it was worth it. As much worry and work as they are now being outside all the time is worth it also. Yesterday I walked a short distance away while they were out free with me. One or the other looked up and realized I wasn't there and they both started yelling then saw me and came arunnin'. It's the first time I could see that there had been some imprinting. I mean, I knew they knew my voice, and their names, and where 'home' is. But this was the first time I felt they looked to me for protection and security.

Here they are at 4 weeks: