Hi, I'm Nonnie,
I've been wanting ducks for a few years because when I researched chickens, it appeared ducks would be a better choice for me. And I am deathly afraid of chickens because of a bad experience i had as small child on my Uncle's chicken farm . Ducks don't really bite! I ordered 7 welsh harlequin ducklings from farm & fleet. They were suppose to arrive on Good Friday, but got detained at the post office which worried me because I received them a whole 24 hours later than expected! My 6 young adult children said I acted like I was expecting again by the way I acted! Lol! But I had been waiting a whole year & 1/2 for them since none were available the previous year. I suspect they are in high demand for all the magnificent things that have been said about them on the internet. None the less, I had everything ready for their arrival. I made new use for the play yard that was not only used for toddlers in the past, but puppies too! Placed a large throw rug on my dining room floor, covered with a shower curtain liner ,then the pay yard & took clothes puns to pull up & pin the shower curtain to the outside of the play yard. Then I placed a large foil banquet pan that I covered with vinyl covered hardware cloth ( 1/2" or smaller squares, sturdy enough to hold ducks with 1 gallon waterer), this eliminated water mess. I filled the pen about 2 inches deep with wood shavings from Menards. Then placed a brooder plate in one far corner of the pen & a heat lamp opposite the brooder plate ( both opposite end from the waterer). Then I placed a 1 gallon chicken feeder in the center. Worked like a charm with a few complaints from my 3 young adult sons, about it being unsanitary so close to the kitchen. Lol! It was a very easy clean up though. I'd take the water tray & waterer to dump & clean. Take the shavings up with one swoop of the table cloth & dump it in my compost pile. I guess I could have placed another liner beneath the 1st to make the cleanup faster since I would have to wait for the 1st shower curtain to dry after disinfecting it. But the ducklings didn't appear to be stressed about being in their temporary coop( an XL dog cage I lined with card board with their heat plate stuck to the side & food & water accessible in a tray just outside the bars of the cage. They would stick their heads between the bars & once again mess was less. Of course, then they were in our family room usually while the family was watching TV. Lol! Since I had to leave out of town a week ago, I had to move them outside where May weather can be impredictable where I live. So I'll spare you that ordeal on this introductory thread & start another.
I've been wanting ducks for a few years because when I researched chickens, it appeared ducks would be a better choice for me. And I am deathly afraid of chickens because of a bad experience i had as small child on my Uncle's chicken farm . Ducks don't really bite! I ordered 7 welsh harlequin ducklings from farm & fleet. They were suppose to arrive on Good Friday, but got detained at the post office which worried me because I received them a whole 24 hours later than expected! My 6 young adult children said I acted like I was expecting again by the way I acted! Lol! But I had been waiting a whole year & 1/2 for them since none were available the previous year. I suspect they are in high demand for all the magnificent things that have been said about them on the internet. None the less, I had everything ready for their arrival. I made new use for the play yard that was not only used for toddlers in the past, but puppies too! Placed a large throw rug on my dining room floor, covered with a shower curtain liner ,then the pay yard & took clothes puns to pull up & pin the shower curtain to the outside of the play yard. Then I placed a large foil banquet pan that I covered with vinyl covered hardware cloth ( 1/2" or smaller squares, sturdy enough to hold ducks with 1 gallon waterer), this eliminated water mess. I filled the pen about 2 inches deep with wood shavings from Menards. Then placed a brooder plate in one far corner of the pen & a heat lamp opposite the brooder plate ( both opposite end from the waterer). Then I placed a 1 gallon chicken feeder in the center. Worked like a charm with a few complaints from my 3 young adult sons, about it being unsanitary so close to the kitchen. Lol! It was a very easy clean up though. I'd take the water tray & waterer to dump & clean. Take the shavings up with one swoop of the table cloth & dump it in my compost pile. I guess I could have placed another liner beneath the 1st to make the cleanup faster since I would have to wait for the 1st shower curtain to dry after disinfecting it. But the ducklings didn't appear to be stressed about being in their temporary coop( an XL dog cage I lined with card board with their heat plate stuck to the side & food & water accessible in a tray just outside the bars of the cage. They would stick their heads between the bars & once again mess was less. Of course, then they were in our family room usually while the family was watching TV. Lol! Since I had to leave out of town a week ago, I had to move them outside where May weather can be impredictable where I live. So I'll spare you that ordeal on this introductory thread & start another.
Glad you joined.
Hello Nonnie and welcome to BYC, You found an Amazing Poultry Community to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you along your journey with any questions you may have. 
