Ducklings day 37

A second day out in the run for the ducklings, plus I added a larger pool for them.

Firstly, a few pictures from after yesterday’s post. Here are the ducklings and Bert sitting around in the evening:

Ducklings

And rushing inside as I approached to close up the duck house:

Ducklings

The doors closed for the night:

Empty run

This morning, everybody outside:

Ducklings

I moved the mobile camera to inside the run, attached to the fence, so the view wouldn’t be obscured by the wire:

Camera

Ducklings

This afternoon I added a portable kiddie pool, to increase their swimming capacity, with some bricks inside and out as steps:

Kiddie pool

Bert and Betty having a conversation again:

Ducklings

They haven’t figured out how to get into the new pool yet. Maybe I need to make the steps shallower? I know they can handle those size steps, but I guess it’s a bit intimidating:

Ducklings

The closest I saw any of them to attempting it:

Duckling

Ducklings day 36

Today at the duck house is a bit different: to give the ducklings more space, I assembled a little run for them using some spare gates.

They’re getting bigger, and are old enough to go outside now, though about three weeks from being ready to go free-range in the pond.

My initial idea was to use some posts and spare fencing wire to make a run, then I remembered these metal gates. The two poles even have concrete still on them, making them more stable.

These gates used to be on a fence between the field and the rest of the garden, that we removed years ago.

Here’s what I assembled. It’s just held together with bungee cords, but is secure enough — and is only temporary; I’ll remove it all once they’re allowed in the pond:

Duckling run

The gate on the top probably isn’t necessary; it’s mainly to keep other animals out. The ducklings can’t fly that high (or at all yet).

I can slide the top gate off if desired, and can swing open the left gate to access the run.

I’ll get them to go back inside at night, and close up the duck house. This run is just for daytime use.

Here’s a shot from the duck house cam, with the doors open:

Duck house cam

The first duckling to step slightly outside:

Ducklings

Starting to explore:

Ducklings

Bert was very curious:

Ducklings

I moved the mobile camera from the beehives to watch the duckling run:

Camera

Bert:

Bert

Peeking at the ducklings from above:

Ducklings

From the other side:

Ducklings

Some pictures from the mobile cam (before I changed the cam label):

Ducklings

Look at those wings!

Ducklings

Back inside for a nap:

Ducklings

Afternoon run time:

Ducklings

Sitting around:

Ducklings

Ducklings day 35

Zoom zoom… today I zoom in on some of the ducklings, and remind you (and me!) of their names.

1x ducklings:

Ducklings

2x ducklings:

Ducklings

4x ducklings; this Betty the Buff:

Ducklings

One of the two Khaki Campbells, named Clyde or Cora (I’m not sure which this one is; the gender will be more apparent once a bit older). Check out those growing wing feathers:

Ducklings

The other Khaki Campbell; if I had to guess, I’d say this is Clyde, and the previous picture is Cora, but could be the other way around:

Ducklings

This is Sven, the male Blue Swedish:

Ducklings

The female Blue Swedish, Sonja:

Ducklings

One of the two Rouen boys, Raoul or Rémy (the other was hiding):

Ducklings

Betty and Bert having a conversation, perhaps about how both of their bills are so dirty (ducks aren’t the cleanest when out of the water):

Ducklings

Ducklings day 34

Today, cleaning the nesting boxes, a GIF of stealing a treat, and more.

Did you see the video of the ducklings?

A morning swim:

Morning swim

Messy nesting boxes:

Ducklings

Fresh straw:

Fresh straw

Ducklings

This looks like biting, but it’s really an attempt to steal the treat:

Ducklings

Which was successful, as seen in this GIF from that Live Photo:

Ducklings

Video

Almost five week old ducklings

A video from this morning of the ducklings eating leafy treats and bathing in the pool, with some peeps and proto-quacks, plus Bert hanging out.

Ducklings day 33

It’s duckling time again!

A peek though a nesting box… I need to clean that out, there’s a bunch of mashed spilled food mixed in the straw:

Ducklings

And the usual pics:

Ducklings

Curious head tilt:

Ducklings

Got a bit of lettuce on your bill, Betty:

Ducklings

I accidentally took a screenshot of the iPhone camera app, but thought I’d post it for the skyward head tilt:

Ducklings

Ducklings day 32

Last night Betty knocked over the EcoGlow brooder:

Ducklings

A GIF:

GIF of knocking over the EcoGlow

The crime scene this morning:

EcoGlow

I righted it, and put it back bit, so hopefully it’ll be more stable now.

Treat time:

Ducklings

Hey Bert:

Duck and ducklings

Ducklings day 31

Happy US Independence Day! I spent the day doing homestead projects (more on that another day), so am posting this via my iPad Pro from our deck after a tasty grilled meal.

Nothing particularly exciting today; ducklings with treats:

Bert peeking:

Ducklings day 30

This morning I mucked out the duck house, and captured pictures and a GIF of ducklings flapping their wings, with cute little feathers.

But first, three cam shots from overnight, showing sleepy and active ducklings… but also showing a benefit of the new position of the waterer, letting me see how the level drops overnight:

Ducklings