I'm rambling but thought I'd share.
I have been able to observe different breeds. It's been very interesting to see. My first batch ( down to 9) I have 4 Pekins, I suspect 2 Buffs (since I now have two Buff babies too- I see the markings), suspect 2 Cayugas and a suspect Runner (he stands taller and his face shape is different than the other 2 black ducks). All these breeds have notable differences. Genders all unknown.
My second batch (of 8) are all females and I ordered 2 Buff, 2 WH, 2 Fawn&White Runners and 2 Golden 300s.
The first batch was kinda messy in their brooders and they ate like pigs. This second batch are lighter eaters and dang they are water messy! Much more than the first batch and I had 10 in the first to start with! And Pekins- those Pekin ducks turn into jittery little balls of energy around water (at least mine do).
Batch 2 turned 1 week today and they are getting bigger. I thought I'd split them into 2 bins now (which I began Thursday actually). Well first of all they cried like babies that I did that- poor things. Peep peep peep peep! (the peeping did get better though) Well not only did it make them all loud and sad BUT they actually got messier! No joke. One batch of 4 was clearing their waterer out in less than 20 minutes. Turning their bin into a darn lake. I was doing full bin changes nearly every hour. Insanity!
So today for sanity sake (I homeschool so my kids are here and I cannot spend all day with just duck duties)- I put them back in the same bin during the day. A little less mess honestly and no peeping out of the norm. The added benefit- for some odd reason they go through water LESS quickly?? Weird right? I did NOT have to do this even at age 3 weeks with 10 ducklings let alone 1 week old set of 4 ducklings?
Anyway for bedtime routine I always make sure they have fresh bedding, fresh water and fresh food before going to bed (thats usually around 10-11pm). I walked away to take out the garbage and wrap the hose up and came back and the water was GONE. Bone dry. Seriously? Less than 15 minutes. Are they alien ducks?
By process of elimination (worked on this for 2 days lol moving the sets because I was trying to figure who the heck was doing this)- the set/breed that was always in the messy lake bin has been the 300s. I gave them more water and they acted like they had never had any. Charging through the waterer making water fly, taking mouthfuls and dribbling it (more so than the Runners, who seem much neater when you watch them together) and just spazzing sometimes. I guess they REALLY like water?? But dang!
The others like water too but apparently not as much as they do. Maybe I have freaks lol. It's funny though. Not really complaining but I am rather surprised by them! haha
So far for having these ducklings for 1 week:
Buffs seem sweet and cautious. My Runners (oh good golly they stool my heart) are sweet, curious and love to be snuggled and sometimes peep for me. WH are sweet and gorgeous and holds the runt of the female batch (of all the 1 weekers)- she is itty bitty tiny- seem cautious but not skittish at all. The 300s are the most cautious, almost skittish, freaks for water and really pretty ducklings.
I am enjoying most of my duck adventures. Some of them have been heartbreakers (dying ducklings) but I can see why the people that have ducks- love them so much. 
I have been able to observe different breeds. It's been very interesting to see. My first batch ( down to 9) I have 4 Pekins, I suspect 2 Buffs (since I now have two Buff babies too- I see the markings), suspect 2 Cayugas and a suspect Runner (he stands taller and his face shape is different than the other 2 black ducks). All these breeds have notable differences. Genders all unknown.
My second batch (of 8) are all females and I ordered 2 Buff, 2 WH, 2 Fawn&White Runners and 2 Golden 300s.
The first batch was kinda messy in their brooders and they ate like pigs. This second batch are lighter eaters and dang they are water messy! Much more than the first batch and I had 10 in the first to start with! And Pekins- those Pekin ducks turn into jittery little balls of energy around water (at least mine do).
Batch 2 turned 1 week today and they are getting bigger. I thought I'd split them into 2 bins now (which I began Thursday actually). Well first of all they cried like babies that I did that- poor things. Peep peep peep peep! (the peeping did get better though) Well not only did it make them all loud and sad BUT they actually got messier! No joke. One batch of 4 was clearing their waterer out in less than 20 minutes. Turning their bin into a darn lake. I was doing full bin changes nearly every hour. Insanity!
So today for sanity sake (I homeschool so my kids are here and I cannot spend all day with just duck duties)- I put them back in the same bin during the day. A little less mess honestly and no peeping out of the norm. The added benefit- for some odd reason they go through water LESS quickly?? Weird right? I did NOT have to do this even at age 3 weeks with 10 ducklings let alone 1 week old set of 4 ducklings?
Anyway for bedtime routine I always make sure they have fresh bedding, fresh water and fresh food before going to bed (thats usually around 10-11pm). I walked away to take out the garbage and wrap the hose up and came back and the water was GONE. Bone dry. Seriously? Less than 15 minutes. Are they alien ducks?
By process of elimination (worked on this for 2 days lol moving the sets because I was trying to figure who the heck was doing this)- the set/breed that was always in the messy lake bin has been the 300s. I gave them more water and they acted like they had never had any. Charging through the waterer making water fly, taking mouthfuls and dribbling it (more so than the Runners, who seem much neater when you watch them together) and just spazzing sometimes. I guess they REALLY like water?? But dang!
The others like water too but apparently not as much as they do. Maybe I have freaks lol. It's funny though. Not really complaining but I am rather surprised by them! haha
So far for having these ducklings for 1 week:
Buffs seem sweet and cautious. My Runners (oh good golly they stool my heart) are sweet, curious and love to be snuggled and sometimes peep for me. WH are sweet and gorgeous and holds the runt of the female batch (of all the 1 weekers)- she is itty bitty tiny- seem cautious but not skittish at all. The 300s are the most cautious, almost skittish, freaks for water and really pretty ducklings.
I am enjoying most of my duck adventures. Some of them have been heartbreakers (dying ducklings) but I can see why the people that have ducks- love them so much.
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