Ducks Week 6- Out in the pen

Today the ducks get to experience a different type of freedom in the pen. We had open up the fence again and insert the chicken coop into the pen. The busybody chooks quickly went to inspect and made themselves at home. After all, it is their old home. Without any invitation, they have start eating the duck food and drinking from their water bowl.

And of cos, how can any inspection be carried out without the elder Nasty Pasty and Feisty.

Caught on camera so we know who is the one causing all the mess!

The ducks were immediately shown the big open space and they are not shy at all, walking around the pen athough they quickly found a safe haven in the corner.

Did Mandy see something she disapprove?

Geeze...Little need to cover up his beak when he yawn. Yes.. we think it might be a "he" for it has been making funny crooking sound, almost like he's having asthma.

Watch out ducks, Inspector Feisty is here!

And Stripy wants to have a go too! the ducks did not get much chance to warm their bottoms.

Ducks enjoying their new bath area.

And eating from the chook's feeder as well!
































First Stripy flew up to the top of the coop while the rest watch (didn't managed to get a picture of this). Next Mandy wants to be high too.

The the rooster decided it wants to be a man too and show off. (after a few unsuccessful attempts, witness by the hens and ducks )

So, I believe the ducks are happy with this new arrangement, they are always wagging their tails. Being a duck is great (except when you are being eaten), just spend the day slacking, grooming and eating. Of cos, our ducks always put on their best (timid) behavior when Inspector Feisty is always just around the corner.

Duckling Week 5

Week 5 and I guess they should be called Ducks now instead of ducklings. These ducks are getting their adult feathers and their wings structure is beginning to show.

Today is a warm day so one of the duck is more adventurous and decided to take a dip and enjoy the water.

and lost its head maybe........

OH found it!

The ducks had been lazy all day....resting in the sun and in the shade...

grooming themselves....

and doing stretching exercises.....

5 weeks old and they are still very timid. Each time they see us 200m away, they will start squeaking and oh yes, one of them start quacking at us too. They will push themselves and each other into a corner and behave like ducks that had gone mental! Don't think these ducks are driven by food because lettuce doesn't make them any more tamed.

Duckling Week 4

Week 4 and these ducklings are getting big. I can see their adult feathers growing. Their legs and wings are getting bigger and they are still very timid. We've got 6 now after giving 6 to Craig's mum last week.

There was rain last night and this morning, the duck pen is wet and muddy. I'm sure the ducklings will love the wet mud but i'm concerned about hygiene. So I've decide to give their pen a little revamp. I filled the sand ground with straws and place weeds (sponsored by Sandy yesterday )above the straw. Filled up a tub with water and added some bricks as little steps for the ducklings to get in. Replace their water container with a heavy mixer bowl so they can have more space in the pen. It's also to see if this might be cleaner option. Sit their food container  on 2 bricks so stop them from spilling food everywhere. This is later confirmed a failed attempt.:(

The ducklings decided to come out of their "bed" and I think they are quite surprise and happy with the greens. They started eating the weeds and soon figured it's not as easy as they think. It looks like they are drooling weeds. In an attempt to bond with them, I sat beside them reading for some time. They seem calm but decided not to do anything else but rest. Seems like they like their grass bedding and sunlight alot because they pretty much just lay there the bulk of their day.

and the occasional stretches....

and grooming..

I also chopped up some tomatoes for them and they (or some) seem to like it. It's meant to be good for them.

The chooks sure know where to get a bird's eye view of the ducklings ;)

Duckling Big Day Out & Chooks Big Day In

The ducklings are on the way to destroy their lovely paper home with their messy eating and drinking. So Craig had decided out they go. There a little bit of poultry movement required. We had to move all the younger chooks into the pen and move the ducklings into the coop.

so in went the chooks, ready to brave Feisty, Timid and Sickie(not so timid and sick anymore.....we have renamed them to Nasty Pasty 1 and 2 ). They will have to learn to share the food, water and sleep together in the new home Craig had built.

And in went the ducklings! they seem to love the open air and sunlight. I have them a small bath and yes, messy as usual. Some ducklings were eventually falling into the bath and having a mini splash.

drinking from their bath

oh, did I mentioned we have 12 ducklings???

and only one brave one to start using the bath??

 Overall, They seems happy with their new home :)

Ducklings Hatch Day 2

Day 2 and more ducklings hatched! When we checked this morning, 1 more were hatched during the
night!

you still need to stretch when you are sleeping ;)

The older ducklings are now yellow and fluffy and getting familar with their new home.They started eating, drinking and making a stinky mess as well!

During the day, 4 more hatched during the day!! We have 11 cute ducklings now. Can't resist cuddling and petting them....

one big family

And there's more to come!

Ducklings Hatch Day 1

Today we await the exciting event of watching our duck eggs hatched. We got them about 30days ago and the countdown began. Ducks take a longer time (about 1 week) to hatch compared to chicks. They will stay fluffy longer as well.

This is a great experience as it will be our 1st time being duck "parents"! The ducklings started pipping yesterday and this afternoon we witness the 1st duckling hatched. It was amazing watching the little one struggled its way through, pushing and wriggling. I reckon ducklings takes more effort to hatch than chicks because they have a longer neck and legs, which are folded up when they are in the egg. Ducklings also made a squeaking noise rather than chirping sound. They also squeak lesser compare to chicks.

The familiar incubator

1st duck hatched at 3.30pm. It had a little struggle trying to push itself out of its shell. What a champion! 

watch the 1st duckling hatch !!

Around 4.30pm (we did not witness its birth), the 2nd duckling was hatched...This one makes more squeaking sound than the 1st duck...

3rd duckling was hatched around 7.30pm.

1st and 2nd duckling were moved to their new foam home!

and very soon, it's bed time. It's been a long day......:)