Getting Cayugas, first ducklings!

[CayugaJana]

I love my cayugas. But my males can be a-holes. I wouldn’t go any less than 1-3 ratio. I have 2 males right now and the head honcho chases the other one away anytime he gets near the flock. I love your coop. It looks like the perfect size. The only thing I see is lacking a door. And the reason I say that is because they probably won’t use the coop at all unless you force them into a coop and lock them up at night. Silly things. Your pen looks like a good size unless you want grass to grow. It will most likely be mud all year round unless they spend very little time in it. As for flowers, good luck. I’ve tried everything I could think of to keep my ducks from eating my flowers and plants. The blueberry bush won’t make it unless there is no way they can get close to it. Otherwise they will stick their necks through the fence and eat it to a nub. I’ve seen lots of pretty photos of runs with flowers around it but it hasn’t worked for me. I would start them out in the kiddie pool with a heat lamp. 8 ducks would be ok for about a week then they will get super stinky in the hutch. But I would put chicken wire or something similar around the kiddie pool because they can and will jump out.

 

[tacothechicken]

@CayugaJana thanks! I do plan to lock them in the coop at night, pen will be fenced but we have so many predators I refuse to risk it(coyotes,bobcat,coons etc)! Had a hawk break into our loft And kill two pigeons this morning (at least it didnt know there were baby chickens about) And luckily the coops not done! It will be getting a door and proper roofing and sides will be getting galvanized wiring + extra slates to break wind etc. I suspected the kiddie pool may be needed off the bat. I think I'm short one heat lamp though(I'm using some on a clutch of 15 chicks outside right now) I'll grab another lamp tommorrow and swap them into the pool once temps steadied out they'll be almost always freeranging over an acre during good weather, but I'm sure it probably will become a mud pit anyways since its backing a stream only a few meters away and my chickens like to ruin anything I plant whith vigour..., so I may attempt some reedy grasses or more wetland suited ground cover and prevent uneneeded blueberry and plant deaths lol.

 

[tacothechicken]

They've arrived!! All 8 were happt and vigorous! Plus they appear to have thrown in a black swedish as extra! Leaving them whith chicks for today and will swap them to the kiddie pool tommorrow once they rested up!

 

[tacothechicken]

Lol I can already tell the ducklings are gonna be a crack up they already tried eating my fingers, napping in the water, and playing king of the castle whith the food dish

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable Congrats!!

 

[DuckyBabies]

Lol I can already tell the ducklings are gonna be a crack up they already tried eating my fingers, napping in the water, and playing king of the castle whith the food dish
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They are so cute! My duckies would always try to sleep in their water!

 

[tacothechicken]

Lol they were drenching the chicks after a while, so into the pool they've gone! Ps the brooder whith the chicks was at 100 in hottest part and blocked from wind. The pool is not very insulated and is sitting about 85 right now whith night time temps. Babies are piled together but not complaining, they should be ok right?

 

[Miss Lydia]

85 is a good temp for first week then as long as there isn’t any drafts you drop the temp 5 degree each week there after. They sure are precious little ones

 

[happy duck]

Love your babies!!!

 

[Cayuga momma]

They've arrived!! All 8 were happt and vigorous! Plus they appear to have thrown in a black swedish as extra! Leaving them whith chicks for today and will swap them to the kiddie pool tommorrow once they rested up!
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Yay!
I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner!
We need more pics!!!!