Coleycrawler
In the Brooder
I’ve been a lurker for years and you’ve all helped me save and enhance the lives of my feathery buddies! I just decided to make it official and sign up!
Right now I’ve got 4 baby mallard ducklings. A friend found 6 of them on June 22 next to concrete median on a highway 62. With no momma.
She stopped traffic and put them in an amazon box and headed to my house. I had 15 minutes to prepare lol. As I don’t know to much about Ducks I’ve learned from this site they must have just hatched the day before. I could fit all 6 in one hand. So I use the 22nd as their birthday. Besides the 2 that died from what I’m assuming was botulism, the first 2 days I had them, the other 4 are thriving perfectly!
Today they are 3 weeks old!
It’s been a joy watching them grow daily!
Yesterday was the first day I saw what I think seen the start of feathers!
I have lots of questions and very curious about them.
This is what I’ve been feeding them:
Chicken starter(non medicated)
Chopped up kale
Chopped Broccoli
Chopped Romaine
Mealworms
Watermelon
Tons of worms!!! They LOVE WORMS!
I just dig up the yard and they follow and eat all the bugs and worms.
This is how I’ve housed them:
They started with a chicken starter cage that folds up I got from fleet farm. But wanted to provide them more so I just got large long material and made them a huge portable enclosure(I call it the pent house) outside with a kitty pool and covered comfy areas to rest and sleep.
I’ve kept them outside all day and moved them inside at night. Last night was the first night they stayed outside all by themselves.
What’s my end plan?
To provide them the best chance at life as possible. To be free, but come see me so I know they’re ok when they can. (Working real hard to not get attached, it’s a lot easier with 4 than one, but I’m not fooling anyone. I love them sooo much)
I’ve got so much more to say as ask but I’ll stop for now.
Thank you! All sooo much. The duckies thank you too!
Pics:
Top left was 2 days ago
Top right was day 3
Bottom left was day 2
Bottom right was yesterday
I have so many pics and videos they grow sooo fast! I was surprised!
Right now I’ve got 4 baby mallard ducklings. A friend found 6 of them on June 22 next to concrete median on a highway 62. With no momma.
She stopped traffic and put them in an amazon box and headed to my house. I had 15 minutes to prepare lol. As I don’t know to much about Ducks I’ve learned from this site they must have just hatched the day before. I could fit all 6 in one hand. So I use the 22nd as their birthday. Besides the 2 that died from what I’m assuming was botulism, the first 2 days I had them, the other 4 are thriving perfectly!
Today they are 3 weeks old!
It’s been a joy watching them grow daily!
Yesterday was the first day I saw what I think seen the start of feathers!
I have lots of questions and very curious about them.
This is what I’ve been feeding them:
Chicken starter(non medicated)
Chopped up kale
Chopped Broccoli
Chopped Romaine
Mealworms
Watermelon
Tons of worms!!! They LOVE WORMS!
I just dig up the yard and they follow and eat all the bugs and worms.
This is how I’ve housed them:
They started with a chicken starter cage that folds up I got from fleet farm. But wanted to provide them more so I just got large long material and made them a huge portable enclosure(I call it the pent house) outside with a kitty pool and covered comfy areas to rest and sleep.
I’ve kept them outside all day and moved them inside at night. Last night was the first night they stayed outside all by themselves.
What’s my end plan?
To provide them the best chance at life as possible. To be free, but come see me so I know they’re ok when they can. (Working real hard to not get attached, it’s a lot easier with 4 than one, but I’m not fooling anyone. I love them sooo much)
I’ve got so much more to say as ask but I’ll stop for now.
Thank you! All sooo much. The duckies thank you too!
Pics:
Top left was 2 days ago
Top right was day 3
Bottom left was day 2
Bottom right was yesterday
I have so many pics and videos they grow sooo fast! I was surprised!
!!
