My Little Ducklings!

[Krazyquilts]

Glad you got her out! They are so squirmy when held! Your terrified aka held part is spot on! Mine are not yet fans of the whole holding game. I will move mine into the "bus" to take them somewhere and one will chirp like crazy when separated from the other for 10 seconds. Sounds like yours are similar!

Trying to hold them is so hard, especially when they are struggling and scared! I don't want to have a death grip and choke them or break their delicate bones, but too loosely and they can try to jump with equally bad results. I'm sure that at this point the ducklings would say to just them in their brooder, thankyouverymuch. But in the long run, life will be so much easier for them and me if I can convince them that I am not a big bad monster out to eat them.

One of them got "stuck" in their "bedroom" while the other five were making a mess eating and was making the most pitiful, desperate peeps until she remembered, "Oh, I go through the big opening here and whoosh! I'm not alone anymore!"

 

[AnjKar n Ducks]

No, haven't named any yet. Usually, I name everything but for some reason, I haven't even tried naming these babies. I think I'm terrified that I'll do something wrong and one/some will die and that naming them will make me miss them even more.

And yeah, she really does look stinkin' cute under there. (Of course, I'm still at the stage where I think they look cute even when pooping, so what do I know? )

I told my husband about Buff #1's and my little adventure and he said that he was really glad that I was the first one to "lose" one of the ducklings. Apparently because now I can't get mad at him if/when he does it. :/

I agree they just look cute sitting there.
I have had the same problem with naming but I've think I have decided! I feel sometimes they won't make too through the night because I'm not watching but I think you won't lose any, u seem to be doing everything right.
My brother is the same way if I do it before him then I can't get mad because I made the mistake, he's a little stinker.

 

[bydhatch]

Trying to hold them is so hard, especially when they are struggling and scared! I don't want to have a death grip and choke them or break their delicate bones, but too loosely and they can try to jump with equally bad results. I'm sure that at this point the ducklings would say to just them in their brooder, thankyouverymuch. But in the long run, life will be so much easier for them and me if I can convince them that I am not a big bad monster out to eat them.

One of them got "stuck" in their "bedroom" while the other five were making a mess eating and was making the most pitiful, desperate peeps until she remembered, "Oh, I go through the big opening here and whoosh! I'm not alone anymore!"

Yes!! I always feel bad holding them and like I will hurt them but it's better in the long run! So far, I found it better to hold them kind of like a sandwhich with them standing on my bottom hand. They seem to like that better.
The peeps are heartbreaking! But come on, you will see your brother/sister in 10 seconds!

 

[Krazyquilts]

I feel sometimes they won't make too through the night because I'm not watching but I think you won't lose any, u seem to be doing everything right.

Aw, thanks! I was sooo nervous about screwing up that I've been doing tons of research and reading and reading. I want to be the best duck mom I can be!

 

[Krazyquilts]

Yes!! I always feel bad holding them and like I will hurt them but it's better in the long run! So far, I found it better to hold them kind of like a sandwhich with them standing on my bottom hand. They seem to like that better. smile.png

I keep telling them that even if they don't ever love me back (sniff), it will be better for them in the long run if they can acclimate themselves to being handled because eventually they will need to be bandaged or medicated or have a scrape looked at etc. Also that I haven't eaten them even once in their whole lives, so calm down a little!

 

[AnjKar n Ducks]

I keep telling them that even if they don't ever love me back (sniff), it will be better for them in the long run if they can acclimate themselves to being handled because eventually they will need to be bandaged or medicated or have a scrape looked at etc. Also that I haven't eaten them even once in their whole lives, so calm down a little!

Exactly!!

 

[Krazyquilts]

Day Two, Continued:

The Cayuga duckling with a little bit of yellow on her chin and breast:

My husband holding a very chatty Welsh Harlequin:

I took this picture during a middle of the night during a trip to admire the ducklings the bathroom. Do you see the black line over the middle duckling's back? That would be a little black Cayuga leg streeeeeetching out in her sleep!!! I could hardly stand the cuteness!!!

 

[bydhatch]

I keep telling them that even if they don't ever love me back (sniff), it will be better for them in the long run if they can acclimate themselves to being handled because eventually they will need to be bandaged or medicated or have a scrape looked at etc. Also that I haven't eaten them even once in their whole lives, so calm down a little!

Yep! That's what I whisper to mine when I handle them! But I found out today, their main problem is being seperated, NOT HELD! When they are both picked up together where they can see each other, they are absoultely fine! No squirms, no panic chirping!

 

[Krazyquilts]

But I found out today, their main problem is being seperated, NOT HELD! When they are both picked up together where they can see each other, they are absoultely fine! No squirms, no panic chirping!

I kind of wondered if that was why. I'll have to try that, but I'm not sure if I'm coordinated enough to catch and hold more than one at a time lol.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Day Three, age 4 days

I decided to start a YouTube channel for duckling videos! Both of these videos were taken today.

This one shows them eating:

[VIDEO]

And in this one, I gave them a whole uprooted lettuce plant from our garden. (Chemical free, of course )

[VIDEO]