Funny, naughty ducklings with HUGE appetities

[Sfraker]

I can't believe how much my 6 Welsh Harlequin Ducklings eat! They are 3 weeks old. We had to put together a feed/water schedule so that someone is checking on them every couple hours! Of course I think half the food ends up in the water. My initial plan had been to check food water 3 x per day. That is no where near enough.

They crack me up, every time we add fresh food/water, even if they still had plenty, they come on over, all happily peeping to eat/drink the fresh stuff.

I will never say "eats like a pig" again. It will be "eats like a duckling"!

It was in the mid-high 70's this weekend so we took them outside for a bit to enjoy the sun and to start explore their soon to be coop. After a bit I brought them into my garden with me since it's fenced and I could keep an eye on them. They started pulling up my pea plant seedlings as fast as I could get them in the ground. I would gently chase them away and they would turn around and come right back. Needless to say, they had to go back into their coop and yard area. BAD Ducklings!

I must say that having ducklings brings joy to every day. They are so silly. I could just sit and watch them for hours.

My stories of my ducks have some friends that have chickens interested in trying some ducks this spring.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't believe how much my 6 Welsh Harlequin Ducklings eat! They are 3 weeks old. We had to put together a feed/water schedule so that someone is checking on them every couple hours! Of course I think half the food ends up in the water. My initial plan had been to check food water 3 x per day. That is no where near enough.

They crack me up, every time we add fresh food/water, even if they still had plenty, they come on over, all happily peeping to eat/drink the fresh stuff.

I will never say "eats like a pig" again. It will be "eats like a duckling"!

It was in the mid-high 70's this weekend so we took them outside for a bit to enjoy the sun and to start explore their soon to be coop. After a bit I brought them into my garden with me since it's fenced and I could keep an eye on them. They started pulling up my pea plant seedlings as fast as I could get them in the ground. I would gently chase them away and they would turn around and come right back. Needless to say, they had to go back into their coop and yard area. BAD Ducklings!

I must say that having ducklings brings joy to every day. They are so silly. I could just sit and watch them for hours.

My stories of my ducks have some friends that have chickens interested in trying some ducks this spring.

Oh must be nice to have mid 70's I bet those little ones enjoyed themselves very much.

 

[Richb353]

Congrats on the Welsh Harlequin,
Definitely a labor of love having baby ducks, but well worth it. I received 11 WH last week and enjoy them everyday. Mine are in a kiddie pool within a work shed on my property. I'll just sit there and watch the antics. In another couple weeks I'll move them to their outdoor pen

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

I can't believe how much my 6 Welsh Harlequin Ducklings eat! They are 3 weeks old. We had to put together a feed/water schedule so that someone is checking on them every couple hours! Of course I think half the food ends up in the water. My initial plan had been to check food water 3 x per day. That is no where near enough.

They crack me up, every time we add fresh food/water, even if they still had plenty, they come on over, all happily peeping to eat/drink the fresh stuff.

I will never say "eats like a pig" again. It will be "eats like a duckling"!

It was in the mid-high 70's this weekend so we took them outside for a bit to enjoy the sun and to start explore their soon to be coop. After a bit I brought them into my garden with me since it's fenced and I could keep an eye on them. They started pulling up my pea plant seedlings as fast as I could get them in the ground. I would gently chase them away and they would turn around and come right back. Needless to say, they had to go back into their coop and yard area. BAD Ducklings!

I must say that having ducklings brings joy to every day. They are so silly. I could just sit and watch them for hours.

My stories of my ducks have some friends that have chickens interested in trying some ducks this spring.

Ducklings are so much fun!! and you can never REALLY be mad at them.

They're just to cute. I have 4 runners that are 3 weeks old right now to, and yes they sure eat and drink a lot!! At first I had such a huge problem keeping them with water (maybe just maybe because they spit and splashed out half of it out instead of drinking it) finally have found a solution to that, thankfully.

Pretty jealous of your 70s!!!!!! I jump to get them outside if it is sunny and hits high 40s...... SO glad you are enjoying your ducklings!! I started 4 years ago and had such a blast (despite the mess and care) that I haven't stopped since.

 

[nayeli]

Mine don't eat very much and they are around 6 months old... I only have 2 though.

 

[Finny]

I drives me crazy how much water and food my ducklings go through and I only have three, I can't even imagine what its like having 6! The second I would put in fresh water, they would tip it over and flood the brooder. I had to put a huge rock in the water bowl to stop them from tipping it over, but they still managed to tread water all over the place. And they get their food EVERYWHERE!

I promise though it gets better when they go and live outside

 

[nayeli]

@Finny, I ought to weigh down the quail feeders! They ALWAYS tip them over!

 

[Finny]

@Finny, I ought to weigh down the quail feeders! They ALWAYS tip them over!

A big rock should do the trick!

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

I drives me crazy how much water and food my ducklings go through and I only have three, I can't even imagine what its like having 6! The second I would put in fresh water, they would tip it over and flood the brooder. I had to put a huge rock in the water bowl to stop them from tipping it over, but they still managed to tread water all over the place. And they get their food EVERYWHERE!

I promise though it gets better when they go and live outside

I have discovered an excellent way to keep the ducklings from spilling every where, first I put there water (I just had a normal chicken quart waterer) and food on a 9x13 plastic dish that I had covered with a wire mesh. That way all (okay most of it..) the extra spilled water goes into the container and not the bedding. But I still found they were going through the water to much, so I just took a plastic gallon milk jug, and cut a large hole about 2-3 inches up the side and maybe 2 inches tall, out of it. This large hole is on the opposite side of the jugs handle, so now they have to put their heads into the jug to get a drink, and it keeps their spitting contained. Sorry if that didn't make much sense, but it has made such a difference in mess for me, I thought I would share!!!

 

[Finny]

I have discovered an excellent way to keep the ducklings from spilling every where, first I put there water (I just had a normal chicken quart waterer) and food on a 9x13 plastic dish that I had covered with a wire mesh. That way all (okay most of it..) the extra spilled water goes into the container and not the bedding.  But I still found they were going through the water to much, so I just took a plastic gallon milk jug, and cut a large hole about 2-3 inches up the side and maybe 2 inches tall, out of it.  This large hole is on the opposite side of the jugs handle, so now they have to put their heads into the jug to get a drink, and it keeps their spitting contained.  Sorry if that didn't make much sense, but it has made such a difference in mess for me, I thought I would share!!!

What I great idea! I have to try that! Thanks for sharing