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

[Amiga]

Wynette,

I like the carpet idea. Sand might be (might not be) too abrasive. Whatever you use will likely get some extra added material, pretty quickly, since ducks like to redecorate in their own inimitable style.

Go with your gut on fumes. An overcrowded brooder can get pretty stuffy, too. I like to stick my head in the duck house (if not my whole bod - it's pretty posh, if I must say so myself), close to sleeping duck head level, and breathe in deeply. If I detect ammonia, mustiness, anything like that, it is time to rework bedding. But I haven't detected anything in months and months.

I was initially concerned with the linoleum I laid down, fumes-wise, but it took so long for the weather to warm up, it had gassed off before the ducks moved in.

Would covering a window with half inch hardware cloth, then keeping the window open, work? I don't remember if there are any windows, though. Just thinkin'

Is there a light in the yard? Wondering how many times you'll peek outside overnight.

By the way, I put a lock on the veranda door because I had heard so many stories of raccoons opening latches.

 

[Wynette]

Well, it's been awhile since I gave an update on my ducklings and I thought it was time.

They're all doing wonderfully well - they are such a joy to have! My DH will stand there just waching them yack to each other for hours!

They are now in their 3rd pool; the first was a little kiddie wading pool, then they "graduated" to Tommy the Turtle, a green kid's sand box, and now they are in a Little Tikes pool which is a bit deeper and has a drain attached. I empty/clean/refill every other day....man, does it get STANKY! Took this (very poor quality - cell phone) video last night - sorry for such poor quality, but you get the idea. There was only a couple inches of water in the pool when they went in. It's even cuter when the pool is full, as they'll slide down & crash into each other:

They turned 13 weeks on Monday, and look like mature ducks to me! They'll probably fill out a bit more. They seem super happy, and get along just great. the only issue I've had is that they won't go in on their own at dusk; I have to herd them in every, single night. Last week, I had an issue in the barn & was tending to another critter...it was about 10:30 by the time I was done, and it was pitch black outside (I have a dusk to dawn light on that side of the barn, but it's not exactly bright out there), and I thought FOR SURE they'd have gone in on their own, but nope!

The inside part of the coop is working out great so far. I'm super pleased with the pelleted bedding I chose to use, it's a minimum of 4 weeks between changes, which is fantastic IMO. At the beginning of August, DH and I will add a nesting area in the coop - not exactly sure what size, I'm thinking 16" x 16" should be good? I'll have to search for that info. this month!

Anyway, just wanted to give a quick update, and a THANK YOU to all you duck peeps who helped me out and continue to do so. There's NO WAY that I'd have gotten ducks unless I had a support network like YOU!

 

[Amiga]

Ooh, Wynette, thanks for the video!

 

[Wynette]

SCREAM! EGGS!

I am over the moon excited - totally NOT expecting to find this in the coop last night after work! I changed the bedding Monday night, but then Tuesday morning, I did not open the big doors to the coop, as it was raining lightly. I only opened the pophole door to let them out.

Wednesday morning, again it was raining, so I didn't open the big doors, just the pophole door. Then, when I got home last night, it was nice & sunny so I opened both of the big coop doors (this is a shed, so the doors are huge), and......

HOLY HECK, they just turned 17 weeks on Monday, and I wasn't expecting eggs until September!!! It must be the hybrid layer, and she must have laid the first egg Tuesday, 2nd on Wednesday, and then a third this morning before 6 a.m.! OH MY GOSH! This is what I saw when I opened the doors to the shed last night - this is exactly as I found them, inside, and about 2' inside the pophole door:




Here they are with a Jersey Giant egg:



And here are the first 3 with a Marans egg:



They are so silky feeling, and they have almost a marbled look to them. I absolutely can't wait to try them - will probably make a huge omelet this weekend for DH and myself! WOOT!

 

[Kevin565]

Congrats Wynette!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So exciting!! and of course i had to watch the video again

Congrats again and hope you enjoy your omelet! ps I want that Maran egg.

 

[Wynette]

Congrats Wynette!

Thanks, Kevin! SO exciting! This was yet another example of being so thankful for life's small gifts!

So exciting!! and of course i had to watch the video again

Congrats again and hope you enjoy your omelet! ps I want that Maran egg.

HA! Yeah, they're not laying nearly that dark now; that was one that I'd saved from earlier in the year.

 

[Kevin565]

Thanks, Kevin! SO exciting! This was yet another example of being so thankful for life's small gifts!



HA! Yeah, they're not laying nearly that dark now; that was one that I'd saved from earlier in the year.

. Pretty soon you'll have plenty of eggs for all of your baking needs

.

 

[Miss Lydia]

. Pretty soon you'll have plenty of eggs for all of your baking needs

.

So pull out and dust off your cook books LOL

 

[Going Quackers]

how fun! i know we were shocked when our first girls starting laying at 4mths! Your pellet bedding keeps calling to me too.. i need to try this, yet i just never get that far