Welsh Harlequin

[Welsh H. lover a(TM)?]

Good luck with your ducklings

im also hearing great thinks about harlequins...i cant wait for mine to come!!!

 

[Rosebud 18]

These are my welsh harlequins I got from Metzers on april 6th. These pics. were taken 2 weeks ago. They are 2 females and 1 male.

 

[Welsh H. lover a(TM)?]

their very pretty

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
Oh beautiful! Rosebud...get my hopes built up, and I have more than three weeks to go! I hope it isn't rocket science to hatch them! Going by a lot of what I have read here on BYC..great place to read, and ask questions!

 

[firsthouse_mp]

When do WH's start laying? I am hoping my two will be soon! Hens start the "squatting", but do ducks do anything that will indicate they are ready?

 

[Chiko]

My Good friend is hopefully giving me hopefully 1 maybe 2 if I'm lucky. Can't wait!

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
Yes, two if I'm lucky and actually hatch them! lol...keep fingers crossed...everyone here...they really are pretty birds.

Anyone care to share pictures of how you house your ducks...in..a back yard situation? I have a large back yard, but I've also got a couple of coops and runs going on for my chickens. What kind of special housing do they need? When I say house, I also need to know how big an area is needed for them. Do you have a space just for them, or do you let them run around the back yard? What about with chickens. I know some that have them with chickens. I have chickens.

 

[Rosebud 18]

My ducks, chickens and, goose all run togather during the day. I have 3 12 x 12 dog kennels set up inside the fenced area for them to go in at night. My 11 runners I got from Holderreads go in a one pen, my 3 harlequins, 3 swedes, 2 runners and my gander I got from Metzers go in another pen and my 2 pekins and chickens all go in the garage together. During the winters bad weather they will all go in the garage together at night. My husband fenced in another 200ft of grass today for them. I now have around and acre fenced in for them.
Oh and my buff oprington rooster goes in the other pen.

 

[Cynthia12]

Quote:
Wow, an acre! How would it be! Sounds like you have a pretty nice set up. Now, I need to think of something because....

I candled tonight, and see that I have 7 viable eggs! I think I just may get some ducks. Maybe not the 7, but some.

I had to throw out some that just didn't show anything..so..7 out of 12. Shipped eggs. Not bad? Now to worry about some quitting for some unknown reason. And then the lockdown! And then day 28, if I remember right, 28 days to hatch..not 35 like some?

Rosebud, glad you posted that your chickens and ducks run together. That would make it easier for me if mine would do well together.
Here's a silly question, first of all, I'm not all that silly, and do know that ducks do not roost..lol..but, what about them being in the coop with the chickens? They could have the bottom nest..and make a mess for me to clean up every day.

I only plan on keeping two of them.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I have my ducks and geese in 1/3 acre fenced in the woods. I have to grow grass in sections for them, and the big geese come out to graze when I can watch traffic. The best grass is out by the road of course!

I do have a few chickens in with them, but the drake does not like roosters and chases him every time he gets the chance. There have never been any injuries, but it is pretty funny to watch.

They sleep in thier own little coops at night- the ducks use an XL plastic dog crate that's inside our old alpaca run-in shelter. They have shelter for any weather situations that may come up during the day but they all stay out in it- even if its lightening and hailing- just running around splashing in puddles. It scares the heck out of me!