The Ducklings have moved to the ‘run’

The ducklings are now getting their adolescent feathers which means they are becoming “weather-proof” so they can move outside to the run. The run is our fruit cage which we have mostly clearer and added a duck house and pond. To make it safe from foxes we had to ensure that the edges were firmly reinforced and any small areas where the wire was broken were covered. I am quite relieved to have moved the ducklings into the run because at this stage the cleaning becomes much easier as its a bigger space and therefore the mess they make if more spread out, and I don’t have to clean it as often, and because of the wya we have set it up, when I do the cleaning jobs they are much easier.

Up til now, the process of keeping them happy has been a little more rigourous. The ducklings have needed to be under a heat lamp with food and water overnight, which means when we come and check on them in the morning they’ve made a huge mess with their food and water and their bedding is filthy. So what we did was move them to a kids playpen situated in our greenhouse with fresh food, water and bedding. This had to happen because the mess they make means I had to clean their overnight box almost daily. From there they spend most of the day in their playpen in the greenhouse because it provides a natural heat source.

At the end of the day I would move the ducklings back into their night container using mealworms to distract them from being carried from one container to the other. Then, I get mum’s help moving the box back under the heat lamp. As a final step, I would use a flexible purple bucket to refill their water container and then tossing a few extra mealworms on their water and wtaching them dabble their little beaks in the water to retrieve the mealworms. Then I would say good night by gently stroking the bottom of each of their beaks.

*If you see a duck in a park, do not try to stroke its beak. I have had my ducks since they were a week old and they have imprinted on me and trust me to touch them. Wild ducks and mallards will not have this bond with strangers, especially if they are an adult. And if you touch a duckling, a mother duck will reject it.

Now that they are in the run I will be teaching them to go into the duck house on their own at about 745 each evening so that I don’t have to stress them by trying to catch them.They will also be getting used to not having food overnight and having to come out of their house in the morning to get fresh food.

Its nearly 9 o’clock and I’ve just spent 45 minutes chasing a duck around. Zeus will take himself into the duck house and Gaia isn’t bothered once she’s in, but Hestia. Remind me tomorrow to get Gaia in first, then Hestia, then Zeus because Hestia needs someone on either end of the process to keep her calm.

2 Responses

  1. Jackie Le

    You have worked out such a very thoughtful process to meet each of your ducks needs. Great work! I think Hestia is my favorite at the moment since you have described her personality so clearly. I can’t wait to learn more about them all.

  2. Pat Obrien

    Amazing how each duck has it’s own personality already…

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