What did I do?

[Jego]

I'm a stage 3 ovarian cancer patient. (Womp womp) I am almost done with chemo, so that's lovely. My tumor markers are low. I feel GREAT and have lots of energy. Hoping for a long remission. (I feel like I have to explain this to everyone so they know I'm not buying livestock while laying in bed puking all day.)

We already have chickens. We just got 3 more chicks. I like chickens okay, but I have never been chicken crazy.

While we were at Tractor Supply picking up some rabbit supplies, my kids saw the ducklings and begged their dad for some. He caved!

I don't know if it was the fact that I'm sick(ish), or just that he was weak with hunger, but the man is NOT the one to want to add to our menagerie typically.

So, now I have these ducks and... I LOVE them. They are so much sweeter and funnier than chicks. These little things have so much personality.

Now, I am worried, though. Whereas I like chickens and I protect them as much as I can, I am not very emotionally attached to them. There are plenty of predators at our place and I expect to lose birds. These ducks, though- I would be heartbroken if they get sick or eaten.

I am now researching how to reinforce duck houses like mad. And, I think I need more? We accidentally- Thanks, Tractor Supply kid- got a khaki Campbell and a runner duck, so I'm not sure they will get on?

I don't know why I did this to myself. I just needed to tell people who would "get it." I don't know how you all stand their cuteness!

 

[KaleIAm]

I'm right there with you. I fell hard for my ducks, and what I do to keep them safe is bonkers! I haven't lost one to a predator in six years and we have tons around here!

So... Photos of your babies please? I haven't had tiny cuties for a while. So adorable, so much personality, yes you are so right!

 

[Jego]

The little one is so hard to get photos of because it keeps wanting to run toward the phone and I just keep getting a picture of an eye.

It's probably not my best idea to let them out on our new carpet, but I have found it is easy to tell when they're about to poop!

 

[Quatie]

My husband was not very excited to get ducks at first but then he fell hard for the little peepers. We now have 15 ducks and love them all. I have a variety of breeds and they all get along fairly well. The ducks that grow up in a brooder together, usually share a strong bond. You may end up needing more if you have 1 male and 1 female. That is not to say you won't end up wanting more. Duck math.

 

[Jego]

My upload is super slow!

 

[Jego]

My husband was not very excited to get ducks at first but then he fell hard for the little peepers. We now have 15 ducks and love them all. I have a variety of breeds and they all get along fairly well. The ducks that grow up in a brooder together, usually share a strong bond. You may end up needing more if you have 1 male and 1 female. That is not to say you won't end up wanting more. Duck math.

I think I'll want a dozen more!

 

[Quatie]

When I raised just 2 ducklings, that was the most fun I had raising ducklings. We were able to give them lots of attention and a lot easier to keep clean. If you haven't done a bath time yet, that has to be the best part of raising ducklings.

 

[Jego]

When I raised just 2 ducklings, that was the most fun I had raising ducklings. We were able to give them lots of attention and a lot easier to keep clean. If you haven't done a bath time yet, that has to be the best part of raising ducklings.

We did last night. I was nervous because my husband had ducks on their farm growing up once and they killed them during bath time.

I bought a shallow feeding pan for their first bath and put a ramp in it. They were so funny, though. Instead of using the ramp, they just jumped out and tumbled all over themselves like clumsy teenage boys.

You guys are surely all familiar with these antics, but it is a novelty for me!