Ducklings are here TODAY!!!!!

[Johnson5326]

So my crested duck decided she was going to nest and I was unsure if all of her efforts were wasted. She decided that the best place to nest would be in the fire pit under the Christmas tree. All sorts of oil has been poured there and yard trash burned over the years. We kept moving the eggs and covered her first choice spot. We really want to get rid of the Christmas tree and other wood in the pile but she has insisted it is HER area. So I left her alone and just check on the eggs any time she's off the nest. I also know the chances for crested ducklings aren't that great so I snuck some of the rouen and runner eggs in. She has a total of 10 in the nest.

So today I came home from the feed store and 4 of them were hatching

One looks like it will probably have similar colors to her. I haven't seen the others yet because, well, mama ducks aren't great at sharing their new bundles. But hopefully they all hatch and live.

I now have a rouen sitting on 14 but she's just a casual nester right now. A crow kept getting to the two other nests she made. Now she has a new one that it hasn't bothered yet. Maybe she'll get serious and have some luck. Kinda wish they had done it earlier in the year though.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, my!!!

 

[Johnson5326]

Can't wait til morning when I get to see the progress while she's eating. I left some chick feed in a small feeder and layer pellets on the ground by them just before dark. So if she lets them out they have food. I'll add water tomorrow. I'm moving them into the rabbit pen when they are finished hatching. That way they're safe from the crows, chickens, bigger ducks, crows, owls, neighborhood cats, etc. Its a 12 ft x 15 ft dog kennel with chicken wire around the outside and a little wooden dog house just the perfect size for them. The 2 rabbits won't mind. They have always gotten along great together.

 

[Johnson5326]

I snuck up to take a few pics this morning while Mama Mo was eating. I counted 8 that are fully hatched, one crumbly shell, and a beak hole in the last. So it looks like all 10 may live

I don't see any crests yet. Maybe 1 of the last 2 will be crested. Not sure how we ended up with so much color either. Dad is a full pekin and mom just has the slight silver. That little dark one that's all black except under its beak probably came from my black runner. That's exactly what she looked like as a duckling. Maybe 1 or 2 more came from the rouens? Either way, they are all pekin mixes and seemed healthy this morning when I took the pics. Only this one will load for me right now though

 

[Amiga]

Oh, the immense cuteness!!!!

 

[melissamerry]

I love the colors!

 

[DuckyGurl]

oh my goodness, darling! So sweet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable, Congrats!!! and please get them into the safety of the pen you mentioned before something else finds them. They are just too precious to lose. and no layer for ducklings too much calcium.