We are enjoying being “momma duck” to the baby ducks. One is particularly “friendly.” As I walked past the brooder box yesterday, the lil gal jumped out and ran over to me. I sat on the floor and she jumped into my lap and nestled in my apron and nibbled my arm with her bill. Of course, the others all lined up, peeking their heads over the box, wondering if they could, too, join the love fest. I obliged them; it was all sweetness, apron and fluffy butts. Sorry no pics because I had a lap full of fluff balls.
“Momma duck” took the little peepers swimming today (under close supervision, of course)! I know, you are saying, “but they are only 3-4 days all and that goes against all the stuff in books!” We are pretty radical in our approach to raising poultry — keeping as close to natural as possible. Weening off the brooder light within a week or two, opting for sunlight and dark nights & , for ducks, into the water as soon as possible. We ask ourselves “what would mama duck/chicken do?” and then pretty much throw away the standard how-to raise poultry books.
The duckies took their first swimming in warm warm with some lettuce leaves thrown in for nibbles. They took to water, well, like a duck should! They started dunking their heads, swimming and playing underwater torpedo (so funny when they do that) We let them frolic for about 5-8 minutes and then took them out to preen and sun dry.
Everybody sing all together now: “Little duckies you’re the ones, you make bath time lots of fun… little duckies, we are awfully fond of you…”
"Look Ma I'm Swimming!"
Paddling around and nibbling at lettuce
Lots of head dunking going on
Time to dry off
All our ducks in a row. Marching home. Left foot, right!
Comments(15)
Kaigypsy says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:31 amI’d sqee but I’m at work so I’ll smile and give cyber hugs *hugs duckies*
Bonnie says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:35 amSooooo cute!!! I’m going to let them swim in the kitchen sink — that is if I can leave them alone long enough to finish the dishes that are in it now.
I love the pick of them flapping their little wings!
Soooo cool that we have sister duckies. 😀
Anais says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:28 pm@Bonnie: Love the pics you posted on FB sooooo adorable. Yeah, pretty neat we share “sister duckies” I think we are getting close to naming them. I wrote a list and sis has hers…. stay tuned.
Bev says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:45 amSuch cute babies!
Annette says:
August 12, 2010 at 11:50 amSo cute!
Lea Ann Garfias says:
August 12, 2010 at 11:58 amI’m writing to tell you I have given your blog the Versatile Blogger Award. Please don’t feel obligated to pass the award on if you don’t want to. I just wanted you to know I appreciate your writing.
You can find your award at http://whateverstate.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/im-a-winner/
Thank you for your blog!
~ Lea Ann Garifas
Anais says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:26 pm@Lea Ann Garfias: Well, thank you for the recognition and honor. We ppreciate being listed among all OUR favorite bloggers/sites and our blessed to be able to share our journey with others. Oh, are you still wanting me (Anais) to do an article about homeschooling for Sept? Let me know because my schedule is getting pretty full. Thank you again and hope you are having a wonderful summer. Blessings!
Lea Ann says:
August 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm@Anais,
Yes! Absolutely! I’ve been really looking forward to it.
Could you please email me at my email address given here, and I will send you the info ASAP.
Thanks!
Anais says:
August 17, 2010 at 5:30 am@Lea Ann: Just sent you an email. Hope you are feeling better.
Florence says:
August 12, 2010 at 1:47 pmOh my, how utterly darling!!
Amy says:
August 12, 2010 at 4:13 pmOh what cuties!!! I can’t wait until I can have ducks of my own! I just love Khaki Campbells!!
Lisa Nagurski says:
August 12, 2010 at 8:35 pmThey are adorable! We have 2 Khaki Campbells that are about a month old now – take lots of pictures, they seem to grow over night. What kind are these guys? (Sigh… I miss that stage!)
Anais says:
August 12, 2010 at 10:23 pm@Lisa Nagurski: They are Khaki Campbell’s too. We started raising them over eight years ago – this is our third time round raising babies. 😉
Mark Dubrow says:
August 14, 2010 at 8:52 amIs it true that ducks will eat garden pests like snails but WON’T eat your veggies? We are trying to decide whether to get chickens or ducks. Do you have a recommendation? THANKS! Mark & Andi
Anais says:
August 15, 2010 at 6:07 am@Mark Dubrow: Good question. We have a new social network just for backyard poultry and livestock. You can now direct that question personally to my sister at http://barnyardsandbackyards.org/ask-and-learn/ Perhaps she’ll feature your question there.