Babies have arrived! Pics! And now with video!

[Miss Lydia]

Oh, Harley managed to get flipped over onto her back again, and when we saw her, she was just laying there upside down in the mud like she couldn't figure out what to do. When I went to go rescue her, she managed to struggle over onto her feet before I got there, but it was so weird. She was just laying there not moving.

Is this something that has just started with Harley? you have been giving them Brewers yeast right? I love the video they all are so pretty and the babies have grown so much getting their pretty colors in too.

 

[Julie Birb]

Thank you! I love the chimes so much. They're a real soother when I'm working. Sometimes I just close my eyes and listen to them to relax.

It really looks like they're adapting to the outside pretty well, so I'm going to keep putting them out there for longer periods each day. When the time comes for them to move out, it should be a fairly smooth transition.

Also, we're starting the duck house tomorrow. Progress today consisted of shopping for siding and actually purchasing 3 hinges for the door.

You're welcome, they are so soothing, I agree. Well it seems as though their transition to outdoors is something they are embracing happily. How long will it take you to build their house once you have the materials?

 

[Julie Birb]

Haha, I'm glad she made it upright!

We built our pen and put my guys out today. My back is killing me! Lol But those little guys are worth it. I hope it wasn't too early, but it was getting way too smelly in the house. Tomorrow will be my day to get them a pool! I won't keep it full over nights for a while, but let them slosh around during the day.

Aaah, yes, the little sweeties are worth it.

 

[Julie Birb]

Oh, Harley managed to get flipped over onto her back again, and when we saw her, she was just laying there upside down in the mud like she couldn't figure out what to do. When I went to go rescue her, she managed to struggle over onto her feet before I got there, but it was so weird. She was just laying there not moving.

I am glad she righted herself. Any reason why that could happen? Will she perhaps grow out of it and stop doing it?

 

[Kaessa]

Is this something that has just started with Harley? you have been giving them Brewers yeast right? I love the video they all are so pretty and the babies have grown so much getting their pretty colors in too.

The only time I've ever seen it happen is outside on the uneven footing. The first time was when she was running across the straw and tumbled (last week), and I had to pick her up to get her off her back. This time it looks like she was trying to get into the pool from the side without the step and fell over. She really doesn't "get" the step, even though everyone else does. I can see that I'm going to have to modify the pool entrance once we get it set up properly.

I am definitely giving them brewers yeast, so I don't think it's B vitamin related, anyway. I'm hoping it's not something neurological and just her being a klutz. She's been kind of a klutz since I got her, which is why her first nickname was "Derpy".

 

[Kaessa]

You're welcome, they are so soothing, I agree. Well it seems as though their transition to outdoors is something they are embracing happily. How long will it take you to build their house once you have the materials?

Probably no more than a few hours, it's not going to be incredibly exotic. Pallets for the walls and roof, with a dirt floor and a dug in brick "foundation", and siding for the whole thing once it's built. Probably a piece of corrugated metal or plastic for the roof.

I'm going to try to make it as predator-proof as possible, but we have the advantage of 6 foot high fencing around our entire property and dogs that spend a LOT of time outside, so I'm not incredibly worried about predators. I'm definitely taking it into consideration, though. Most of what we have to worry about around here is cats and owls. I haven't seen a raccoon (or had an alarm bark for anything) in the 8 years we've been here, and if they're inside at night the owls shouldn't bother them. I'm going to give them a shelter to run under just in case they see a bird of prey during the daytime (which is also very rare here).

 

[WVduckchick]

We penned in a large section of our yard with chicken wire, and built a box with their feed and a heat lamp inside, about 3' x 6'. Water is just outside, but I have enough room for the water inside the "porch" of their house. I'm still trying to decide if I should lock them in it at night or leave it open? I locked them in last night, their first night out. I woke up at 3:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep! I'm a worry wort.
As far as predators, I know we have some nearby skunks, and my neighbor said she has seen possums, but I've never seen any. There are a couple large dogs that come up from down the hill below us, but my yard is fenced off. I'm sure possums could get into the yard, not sure about thru the chicken wire. I have 2 indoor dogs that use a doggie door to go out whenever they want, but they sleep inside, usually pretty soundly. Should I lock the ducks up at night?

 

[Kaessa]

We penned in a large section of our yard with chicken wire, and built a box with their feed and a heat lamp inside, about 3' x 6'. Water is just outside, but I have enough room for the water inside the "porch" of their house. I'm still trying to decide if I should lock them in it at night or leave it open? I locked them in last night, their first night out. I woke up at 3:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep! I'm a worry wort.
As far as predators, I know we have some nearby skunks, and my neighbor said she has seen possums, but I've never seen any. There are a couple large dogs that come up from down the hill below us, but my yard is fenced off. I'm sure possums could get into the yard, not sure about thru the chicken wire. I have 2 indoor dogs that use a doggie door to go out whenever they want, but they sleep inside, usually pretty soundly. Should I lock the ducks up at night?

I'm planning on locking mine up at night. I don't think I could sleep if they weren't. I haven't been locking the big girls up at night, because I don't have a house yet, but they never were locked up by the people who we got them from.

 

[Julie Birb]

Probably no more than a few hours, it's not going to be incredibly exotic. Pallets for the walls and roof, with a dirt floor and a dug in brick "foundation", and siding for the whole thing once it's built. Probably a piece of corrugated metal or plastic for the roof.

I'm going to try to make it as predator-proof as possible, but we have the advantage of 6 foot high fencing around our entire property and dogs that spend a LOT of time outside, so I'm not incredibly worried about predators. I'm definitely taking it into consideration, though. Most of what we have to worry about around here is cats and owls. I haven't seen a raccoon (or had an alarm bark for anything) in the 8 years we've been here, and if they're inside at night the owls shouldn't bother them. I'm going to give them a shelter to run under just in case they see a bird of prey during the daytime (which is also very rare here).

Perfect Kaessa. You have all the bases covered to keep your 4 precious girls protected. I am glad it's not gonna be a huge project for you time wise. My buddy's ducks run under the deck when predator birds fly above. They know!!

 

[Julie Birb]

The only time I've ever seen it happen is outside on the uneven footing. The first time was when she was running across the straw and tumbled (last week), and I had to pick her up to get her off her back. This time it looks like she was trying to get into the pool from the side without the step and fell over. She really doesn't "get" the step, even though everyone else does. I can see that I'm going to have to modify the pool entrance once we get it set up properly.

I am definitely giving them brewers yeast, so I don't think it's B vitamin related, anyway. I'm hoping it's not something neurological and just her being a klutz. She's been kind of a klutz since I got her, which is why her first nickname was "Derpy".

I hope it's just a unique quirk for her Derpy-ness and it passes as she matures.