Well, I finally did it. **UPDATED with Pics!*

[aduckstolemyheart]

The babies are outside, in the yard, without me. I had started to believe I was coddling them too much, so today I made the plunge! I sectioned off an area of the yard for the ducklings, and let them loose instead of putting them in the dog crate. They have enough space, the yard has a lot of tree cover for shade and protection, and I placed a sandbox (one the turtle ones) in there for a pool. Still worries me a bit that I don't cover my yards. :s

The only thing I did decide, and I let me know if I should not do this, but I allowed my drake in with them. He LOVES the babies and actually bloodied his feet passing around and around the dog crate yesterday and trying to get inside. He is our only duck besides the babies, and is very lonely. He has always been kind and gentle with them, but I know a lot of people don't let the big guys and the ducklings together. I just don't want to see my drake freaking out all day because he can't be with them, and I think he can add a tiny bit more protection for them.

What do you guys think, should I let him stay with them? Anything I should think of adding to the pen that I did not already?

EDIT: I forgot to mention they are 5 1/2 weeks old.

 

[easttxchick]

I wish I had some advice for you, but my very first ducks are still in the incubator!

I will probably be posting something similiar in a few weeks about being afraid to put my babies outside for the first time.
I really don't know about putting big ducks in with baby ducks-right now all I know about is chickens.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

Well thank you for replying anyway! It gives me a few minutes of distraction, and I need that. I keep running over to the window and peeking on them. It's getting silly.

 

[chasing ducks]

My 3/4 week olds go out tomorrow, yikes! I understand your nervousness. We have one adult that we are unsure if it is a male or female, she is...all right with the babies but not great so it's going to be a challenge.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

It is stressful letting them go out! I am a natural worrier anyway.

So far, Bella (the drake we thought was a hen at first) has been excellent with them. He is always gentle, is ALWAYS by their side, and goes after me when I come outside, because he is afraid I will take them inside. lol

Earlier, when I looked out, the babies were in the pool and he was perched on the edge, just bobbing his head up and down and quacking at them.

 

[chickboss]

AHHH, your big guy sounds so sweet! I know when my ducks finially went out I was up checking on them in the middle of the night to make sure they weren't cold. LOL, they would just look at me like "Hey lady, what's up with the light?" They were fine. And I felt silly.

I don't know if he "should" be out there with them, but I say you know your ducks and are obviously attentive. From what you are discribing I would toatally let big guy stay and play Daddy.

 

[aduckstolemyheart]

I think part of the reason he is so good with them is because he has been so lonely! We got him, as a rescue in a way. He was dumped with three buddies out on my grandparents farm presumably Easter throw aways and because my grandparents had a pond) The other three were killed rapidly by snapping turtles and coyotes so I took Bella, and rescued him. he's my first duck. Because it was after "duck season" here I could not find other ducks to get him for company. So for the last year he's been alone. Except for my cat and they are best buddies (posted a thread with pics of them before)

I think he is happy to have companions and therefore has less to be crabby about. I will probably separate them again later, but they all seem so happy right now. I was just worried, because I know a lot of people here have mentioned keeping them separate until the ducklings are of a certain size, etc. The Pekin duckling is huge, I mainly worry about the little mystery duckling, because he is so much smaller.

So far it's a happy day for all of them, I hope it stays that way!

 

[chickensioux]

Quote:
It's not silly....you love them.

 

[maralynn28]

whoa, had some kinda error there...

Anyway, I think you know your ducky better than anyone else (he sounds like a sweetie!

, and you are obviously attentive to them all. I vote let him play daddy, he seems to be enjoying them...at least for now.

 

[Amiga]

Nothing silly about paying attention. I am looking forward to having the runners in better digs for them. They must be just a little stir-crazy waiting around indoors for the weather to match up to their age and readiness, and for my comfort level to rise. It is not just the freezing - literally freezing weather and big wind, but the predator-proofing isn't done yet. And we have a long list of predators nearby.

So, check on them, sleep outside with them if that is what gives you peace (temporarily, of course!). Once they have been outdoors and fine for a while, it will all be just a normal day with them outside. But for me, transitions are really difficult. So I respect that. It's not like there is no reason to ever be concerned, for goodness' sake.