We (and most of the Portland region) are currently experiencing a power cut due to heavy winds. Fortunately, the ducklings are old enough that they should be fine overnight if the power doesn’t come back on by then.

Another issue is that I’ve noticed that the Blue Swedish duckling has a gimpy leg; she seems to be limping a bit, and not wanting to put weight on it. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do about that, other than hope it gets better, though I should try to grab her and see if there’s an obvious cause. Could be an injury, bumblefoot (abscess), or niacin deficiency, though the latter is unlikely since I add some to their food.

On with the usual pictures of treat time:

Rouen feathers growing fast:

The gimpy leg of the Blue Swedish duckling on her left, our right:

As mentioned earlier, we had to evacuate the homestead due to a nearby wildfire. While the older ducks can fend for themselves, the newer ducklings are too young, so we decided to take them to Mom’s place, along with our dog Rory and two pet cats Pippin and Paladin.

Here are the ducklings in a container in the truck, along with their food. This container has a rough hole and mesh in the lid, made previously as a chick brooder:

I kept the ducklings in the containers in the garage overnight, three in each, along with water and food:

They were rather messy in the morning:

Mom set up a trailer as an enclosure for the ducklings, even with the same kind of paint tray pool as they have at home:

They were eager to bathe:

Looking damp but more clean:

Scratching in the food dish:

Flapping little wings:

Jenn and Mom went out to get groceries plus some chicken wire for a cover to protect the ducklings, and straw bedding:

We added a bigger pool for the ducklings:

This evening I fully covered the trailer with tarps, and will leave them there overnight. It’ll get a little cooler overnight than they’re used to, but they should be fine if they snuggle together. I hope.

The ducklings all survived their night in the trailer pen (see yesterday’s post for info on evacuating with the ducklings).

Pool time this morning, after I refilled the tray:

They were excited for leafy treats:

Looking at me:

Visiting later, they woke up and came over to see me:

Eating after I topped up their food:

See today’s Flock Friday post for info on our evacuation state, and the rest of the flock. For the six rapidly-growing ducklings we have with us, they’ve settled into their new reality, and are enjoying their more spacious digs in the trailer pen. When we can go home again, it’ll be a downgrade for them!

Breakfast for ducklings:

Pool time:

Leafy treats:

More pool time:

Dinner time:

Another day of ducklings. It’s smoky out, but hopefully the ducklings aren’t too bothered by it.

Good morning ducklings:

Treat time:

Treat and pool time:

The Blue Swedish duckling with her tongue out while eating, and straw sticking to their bills:

Another smoky day, not quite as bad as yesterday. The ducklings are feathering out nicely, and starting to make proto-quacks. They grow so fast!

Look at all those feathers:

Two in the bigger pool:

Three in the bigger pool, with some nice water droplets:

Splashes:

Treat time:

Just a few pictures of ducklings today. Evacuation update coming up soon.

One of the things I brought yesterday from the homestead to Mom’s place was the duckling kiddie pool, which I set up today in the trailer pen:

One of the Rouens was first into the new pool, closely followed by the Khaki Campbell (aka the little brown duckling… not so little or uniformly brown anymore):

Two in the water. I only filled it ankle-deep initially; I’ll make it a little deeper over the next few days, until it’s completely full, to let them get used to it. They should be able to swim about now, but it’s best to ease them into it:

More in the pool, and splashing about:

All but one in the pool:

Since the Blue Swedish has the gimpy leg, I don’t think she would be able or comfortable climbing that far, so I’m keeping the paint tray pool for her (yes, it’s still gimpy; no better yet, but no worse either):