They're here! Welsh Harlequin, Golden 300 Hybrid, Black Swedish - Meet WO!

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia - um..........................no...................no.....................well, maybe.........................

here's a link to the website of the woman I got the pair of Welsh Harlequin from. If you scroll down, there are pics of her gorgeous and very duck friendly duck area. They literally converted a huge section of their yard into duckie digs! It's just beautiful:

http://patolocosales.com/index.php/duck-pond/

You know it's only natural

and contagious too... and wow what a beautiful place for ducks, duckie heaven.

 

[Wynette]

Well, my duck buddy Miss Lydia encouraged me to post an update on my little flock.

It hasn't been the best of years, but it has had many twists and turns.

I had to have miss Tess put down after she became prolapsed; I tried to help her heal, and even got her to stop laying for over a week; but, for some reason she began laying again, and the prolapse got worse & worse. I finally decided enough was enough. I'll miss her, she was a lovely, lovely duck.

During that same time (within days), two of my other 4 ducks came up with torn skin on the backs of their necks...I realized that my drake, Linn, had been overbreeding all 5 of them. So, sadly, I had him dispatched as well. I tried removing him for for a week and only allowing him in one day a week, but it just wasn't working, and he was an extremely aggressive breeder. I felt so badly moving him on, but I had to protect my other gals.

That left me with 4 ducks. Dixie the Black Runner, Molly the Black Swede, and Dolly and Cookie, the Welsh Harls.

Well, about a week after we moved Linn along, I noticed a large nest in the corner of the run full of eggs! 13 to be exact. I was just shocked, and they'd been saving them for several days. I moved the nest indoors, and put up a small plywood partition to give Dixie, who was the one setting the nest, some privacy.

**NOTE!! A hatchery Runner duck, brooding a nest!**


After the first 2.5 weeks, Molly ran Dixie off the nest. I thought for sure the eggs wouldn't develop, as the fighting over the nest went on for over 3 days. Then, Molly decided it was okay to be off the nest for 30-40 minutes at a time...sigh. I'd pick her up & put her back into the coop, and watch her go to the nest & settle back on. I didn't want to force her, but hoped to "remind" her that she had eggs to tend to. It seems to have worked, as I candled them Saturday morning and the 3 that developed from the get-go are much further along - my best guess is that they are due this Saturday or Sunday.

Here is Dixie before Molly ran her off, tending to her nest:



A huge "THANK YOU!!!" to my buddy, Miss Lydia, for talking me down from my worry and helping us get to where we are now!

I'll post oddles of pictures next week if the eggs hatch this weekend!

I got to wondering if...after Linn was gone, they decided they needed to hatch another male or something? Seems awfully odd, timing wise...in any event, we're over - the - moon excited, and sure hope we end up with a duckling.....or two....or THREE!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, my duck buddy Miss Lydia encouraged me to post an update on my little flock.

It hasn't been the best of years, but it has had many twists and turns.

I had to have miss Tess put down after she became prolapsed; I tried to help her heal, and even got her to stop laying for over a week; but, for some reason she began laying again, and the prolapse got worse & worse. I finally decided enough was enough. I'll miss her, she was a lovely, lovely duck.

During that same time (within days), to of my other 4 ducks came up with torn skin on the backs of her necks...I realized that my drake, Linn, had been overbreeding all 5 of them. So, sadly, I had him dispatched as well. I tried removing him for for a week and only allowing him in one day a week, but it just wasn't working, and he was an extremely aggressive breeder. I felt so badly moving him on, but I had to protect my other gals.

That left me with 4 ducks. Dixie the Black Runner, Molly the Black Swede, and Dolly and Cookie, the Welsh Harls.

Well, about a week after we moved Linn along, I noticed a large nest in the corner of the run full of eggs! 13 to be exact. I was just shocked, and they'd been saving them for several days. I moved the nest indoors, and put up a small plywood partition to give Dixie, who was the one setting the nest, some privacy.

**NOTE!! A hatchery Runner duck, brooding a nest!**


After the first 2.5 weeks, Molly ran Dixie off the nest. I thought for sure the eggs wouldn't develop, as the fighting over the nest went on for over 3 days. Then, Molly decided it was okay to be off the nest for 30-40 minutes at a time...sigh. I'd pick her up & put her back into the coop, and watch her go to the nest & settle back on. I didn't want to force her, but hoped to "remind" her that she had eggs to tend to. It seems to have worked, as I candled them Saturday morning and the 3 that developed from the get-go are much further along - my best guess is that they are due this Saturday or Sunday.

Here is Dixie before Molly ran her off, tending to her nest:



A huge "THANK YOU!!!" to my buddy, Miss Lydia, for talking me down from my worry and helping us get to where we are now!

I'll post oddles of pictures next week if the eggs hatch this weekend!

I got to wondering if...after Linn was gone, they decided they needed to hatch another male or something? Seems awfully odd, timing wise...in any event, we're over - the - moon excited, and sure hope we end up with a duckling.....or two....or THREE!

We're all waiting to see these little ducklings

 

[Wynette]

Well, it was a long, long process, filled with some heartache at the end, and also one little bundle of joy! First, 2 days prior to hatch day, one of my Welsh Harls flew over the 4' wall we put up to give Molly (the Black Swede...who ran Dixie the Black Runner off the nest in the last part of the incubation and took over) and landed on an egg, squishing it...and killing the duckling.

Then, two days later, a duckling pipped - Excited? That's not the word for it! But...then....36 hours went by, and no progress. I took the egg & pushed lightly on the bill that I could see through the pip hole, and it had died.

Then, I noticed on Sunday morning, 6/14, the last egg had pipped. 24 hours later, NO progress. 30 hours later, no progress. I was beginning to.....

yet again. Then, got home from work, went out to take away the egg and try to get Molly to go outside (she hadn't eaten in 4 days at that point), and I hear...peep! peep! peep! And I look closer and see:



Moved Molly and her duckling to the other side in a larger section by themselves, with water & feed for them both. Molly was yelling at me the entire time:









I'm so excited about this little one.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, it was a long, long process, filled with some heartache at the end, and also one little bundle of joy! First, 2 days prior to hatch day, one of my Welsh Harls flew over the 4' wall we put up to give Molly (the Black Swede...who ran Dixie the Black Runner off the nest in the last part of the incubation and took over) and landed on an egg, squishing it...and killing the duckling.

Then, two days later, a duckling pipped - Excited? That's not the word for it! But...then....36 hours went by, and no progress. I took the egg & pushed lightly on the bill that I could see through the pip hole, and it had died.

Then, I noticed on Sunday morning, 6/14, the last egg had pipped. 24 hours later, NO progress. 30 hours later, no progress. I was beginning to.....

yet again. Then, got home from work, went out to take away the egg and try to get Molly to go outside (she hadn't eaten in 4 days at that point), and I hear...peep! peep! peep! And I look closer and see:



Moved Molly and her duckling to the other side in a larger section by themselves, with water & feed for them both. Molly was yelling at me the entire time:









I'm so excited about this little one.

So adorable. Congratulations!!

 

[Wynette]

Thanks, Miss L! Especially for being there to help with my nerves!

Last night, little WO was giving poor Molly a run for her money. WO has found her (being optimistic, though it'll stay, regardless) legs, and running all over...with poor Molly following her and yacking at her. Super active duckling! Good stuff.

I'll get more pics on Monday; plan to get them weekly for awhile.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, Miss L! Especially for being there to help with my nerves!

Last night, little WO was giving poor Molly a run for her money. WO has found her (being optimistic, though it'll stay, regardless) legs, and running all over...with poor Molly following her and yacking at her. Super active duckling! Good stuff.

I'll get more pics on Monday; plan to get them weekly for awhile.

Look forward to watching her grow. Active is good, means healthy.

 

[Wynette]

Well, WO turned one week old Monday evening, and we got pics at 8 days last night. She's crusin' all around their enclosure and causing Molly much dismay! I saw Molly nip her lightly in the butt last night when she was literally running around Molly in circles. HA! Too, too cute!

A friend who breeds Ancona near me is holding onto two chocolate-colored females for me, and I'll pick them up when they are 6 weeks. Hatched a day after WO, so WO will have a couple buddies to grow up with. I can't wait to pick them up & introduce them!




Sometimes, she stand up tall like her Runner (Dixie) momma!



Love this pic - DH said he could feel her little flippers sort of wrapping around his finger. I love how she has her little head tilted a bit to her right, as if trying to figure out what the camera was or something:



Extreme close-up head shot!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, WO turned one week old Monday evening, and we got pics at 8 days last night. She's crusin' all around their enclosure and causing Molly much dismay! I saw Molly nip her lightly in the butt last night when she was literally running around Molly in circles. HA! Too, too cute!

A friend who breeds Ancona near me is holding onto two chocolate-colored females for me, and I'll pick them up when they are 6 weeks. Hatched a day after WO, so WO will have a couple buddies to grow up with. I can't wait to pick them up & introduce them!




Sometimes, she stand up tall like her Runner (Dixie) momma!



Love this pic - DH said he could feel her little flippers sort of wrapping around his finger. I love how she has her little head tilted a bit to her right, as if trying to figure out what the camera was or something:



Extreme close-up head shot!

I honestly don't think there's much cuter than a lil duckling. she is a doll!

 

[Wynette]

I honestly don't think there's much cuter than a lil duckling. she is a doll!

Tee-hee! I'm just over-the-moon giddy about her. I just can't wait to see her each morning and each evening after work!