While I was spending time with the ducklings this morning, Bert came up to the door and tried to peek inside. Maybe I need a step for him?
Ducks
Ducklings day 9
Today in the duck house, I added a small dish of water, which was very exciting for the ducklings.
Good morning ducklings!
I added the ceramic water dish (a bit foamy initially from the hose nozzle):
The Buff was first to hop into it:
But most of the others wanted to try it, too:
A duckling on top of the EcoGlow:
And the Buff eating from the tube, barely able to reach it:
Everyone wanted to hop in the water dish:
Buff eating from the tube again:
Flock Friday for June 12
This past week has been exciting with the baby ducklings, but I also got a bunch of pictures of the adult duck, Bert, and the chickens.
This post is about the adults, but let’s start with a check in on the ducklings; here’s them a week ago:
And yesterday; look how much they’ve grown already:
A picture of the ducklings and Bert:
I feed him his breakfast in this spot, as the food sinks to the bottom, and there’s a shallow ledge there, as more visible in the previous picture, when the water level was lower; it’s easer for him to eat from the water than on land:
Some pictures of the chickens while I was installing the compost bins:
Chickens and duck:
While I was refilling the feeder, Bert joined me:
Following me down the path to the duck house:
Breakfast next to the duck house:
An animated GIF of a heron taking off, when I went out there to chase it:
Bert drinking water accumulated in the paint tray that will be used by the ducklings next week:
He went up the ramp and tapped on the pop door. Sorry, that’ll stay closed for several more weeks, until the ducklings are old enough to go into the pond (at about 8 weeks old):
Eating again:
A bunch of pictures of the chickens:
I moved the log, and they enjoyed some tasty worms underneath:
A favorite dust bath spot under the pop door ramp:
Another day, I offered fun apple peel treats:
Bert was watching with interest outside the chicken run (I did offer some apple peel to him, but he didn’t want it):
Ducklings day 8
We begin week two of ducklings. They’ve grown noticeably already.
Good morning ducklings!
Topped up bedding, refilled water:
Assorted pictures of the ducklings:
Ducklings day 7
Happy birthday ducklings! They hatched one week ago today.
Here’s a capture from the duck house cam of the ducklings drinking and eating in the dark (visible with night vision):
Another fun fact: chickens roost and sleep at night, hardly moving, because they can’t see in the dark. I believe the night vision of ducks is better, though still not as good as humans, so they can be active at night.
Good morning ducklings:
Quack and peep
Sound on! Listen to Bert’s raspy quack in the first half of the video, and the ducklings peeping in the second half.
Ducklings day 6
Today, Bert and the ducklings saw each other.
But first, some cam shots; last night, a duckling went on the EcoGlow again (probably the same one, showing an adventurous personality):
Ducklings sleeping:
Ducklings drinking:
The usual opening shot of the ducklings; time to add more bedding tomorrow, I think:
A closer look:
I opened the bottom portion of the door, so Bert and the ducklings could see each other:
They retreated at first, then came back out. Bert was good, just standing in the doorway; I was ready to stop him from going inside, but he didn’t try:
He turned his head to look at them from his other eye:
(Fun fact for today: ducks can be literally half-asleep: one eye closed and that side of the brain asleep, the other eye open and that side awake.)
A wide-angle shot of Bert and the ducklings after I closed the bottom of the door:
The ducklings settled down again:
I also recorded a video of Bert quacking and the ducklings peeping, which I’ll probably upload tomorrow. Something to look forward to!
Bert visiting the chickens
Bert the duck checking out the chickens in their run.
Ducklings day 5
Today in the duck house, I captured some interesting EcoGlow interactions, plus added some straw bedding.
Here’s a shot from the duck house cam showing the ducklings actually using the EcoGlow heater for a substantial amount of time; the first time I’ve seen that. Maybe that means it was too high before, and they’ve grown into it? The red light helps keep them more calm.
An animated GIF of a duckling drinking, going under the EcoGlow, then jumping on top of it:
A shot of the duckling on the EcoGlow:
The usual picture of the ducklings when I first opened the door this morning (the light is still red, but the sunlight coming in the open door overwhelms that):
Definitely time for some bedding. I just added a thin partial layer of straw bedding for now (the ducklings hid in the back nesting box while I added that):
Later I will add more, and in due course will remove the shelf liner layer from the floor, once they’re more steady on their feet.
The ducklings were very curious about the straw:
Afternoon visit:
Cutely watching me:
Ducklings day 4
I didn’t spend much time with the ducklings today, as I was busy with another project (more on that another day), but I did get a few pictures during morning and afternoon rounds.
The usual first opening the door shot; the poop is building up, time to clean it out a bit and add some bedding:
On afternoon rounds; looks like the Buff has discovered the feeder tube:
Drinking:
Eating:
