Fall Dumped Ducklings. Not a Recipe!

[johntfs]

Chicken people and ducks are compatible in the right circumstances! I have chickens and ducks. Absolutely love both.

It’s the ones that don’t realize what a mess they can make that have the most issues.

That's why I cheerfully despise the "Easter Duckling" people.

"Hey, let's get the kids a cute little baby duckie like in those adorable You-Tube video!"

"Oops. Why did the two day old duckling die overnight here in our 72 degree temperature home?"

"Right. Heat lamp. OMG! Our house is filled with duck shit!"

"Bye-bye little duckie, make lots of new duck friends here at the par- Oops, the other ducks just murdered it."

For those that can handle it, ducks and chicken are a good mix. Broody chickens can help hatch duck eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have both ducks and chickens.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

New Ducknager pictures from this morning! - They were a little less skiddish today and they loved their run. The other ducks however is another story. There was a scary moment when one of Katharinas girls tried to pull one of the newbies through the fence. Have it on video, but that will need some time to convert and upload.

As always, more pictures in the Ducknager's Media Album…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

So I thought I was only getting Blue ducks from the Pekin, fawn and white runner combo, but this time I got brown and white. where did that come from? I also got a brown with a neck ring which I had marked down as a Rouen egg, though I thought I had only Pekin eggs. Now I'm not so sure. And one Blue and white duckie. This muttlings experiment is quite fun. So far I have found good homes for the excess drakes. I am ready to go again after the holidays.

I have no idea where that dark brown is coming from! - I don't have any dark brown duck. That duck looks like a Duclair drake. I think i need to study @Pyxis genetics article again.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Chicken people and ducks are compatible in the right circumstances! I have chickens and ducks. Absolutely love both.

It’s the ones that don’t realize what a mess they can make that have the most issues.


~


So glad you brought them home!

I do understand them to a certain extend, ducklings are really, really, really messy! - But that also depends on your brooder setup. Just throwing some handfuls of wood-chips into a RubberMaid tub, adding waterer and feeder is asking for a trouble. Add a low hanging heat lamp and a job in retail (holiday season!) to that and voilá: Trouble!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Cool.
Did they go into their night shelter on their own...or....?
What's with the shiny ribbon at top of fencing?

That shiny ribbon will prevent the flock's Alpha Drake from breaking his limbs again!
That welded wire is almost invisible on the grass.
And yes, they walked inside their house by themselves, that large world outside is too scary… Just had to lock the door.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

They will be having so much fun today, being outside and having visits from the other ducks.

Beautiful!

They will have fun! Forecast says 11°C (51F), so i will set up a nice plastic tub for them to bathe. Once my damn garden hose has thawed…

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

They're home!! And sweet little limpy has procreated! They are so beautiful and upright! My runner girl looks like the hunchback of Notre Dame most of the time!!

She is running around with her head withdrawn between her shoulders, bad tempered and noisy? - Watch out she is going broody! That is how Katharina Duck behaves. Pesky hormones!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Okay I am not going to tell her you said that!

Never told any of my Duckies that that little house is actually a chicken cube!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That is so awesome @WannaBeHillBilly. I just love Blanca!

Blanca Duck is the most friendly duck of them all so far. Just don't know if she wants to lure them into her stomach…