These ducklings...my thoughts

[Javamama]

these stinky, water flinging, poop shooting little suckers...are not like chicks I know, it seems like a ridiculous statement. But boy I was not prepared for how very different they are! I am hating the brooder period - cannot wait to get them into a permanent pen. And I only have 2 right now - I shudder to imagine the stinky mess I will have when the next batch shows up next week. They are almost 4 weeks and very ugly at the moment. They run screaming when anyone gets within 10 feet of their pen and I don't have much hope for calming them down.

However it's so cute how they peep for each other when one gets too far away(like more than 2 feet ). And yesterday they heard a car horn and went crazy - must have thought the mother ship was coming. While their antics aren't nearly as cute as chicks - you know how chicks spaz out and then just drop over from exhaustion and it's sooo cute? - the ducks do have this thing where they move in unison 90% of the time. How do they do that? And they don't wander off like chicks would. I can pretty much depend on them staying within 20 feet of where I put them, and that's a good thing.

I am looking forward to the full grown feathered out stage. We have a pair of wild mallards that hangs out and it's so cute how they waddle around like a little old couple out for the morning walk every day.
I don't think I'll ever brood ducklings again. If it doesn't happen the natural way, it ain't happening here.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

What type of ducklings are they? I've heard that some are stinkier than others. In my experience runner ducks are really smelly. My advice is to make sure your brooder is plenty big and clean it at least twice a day.

I started with ducks and then got chickens, so my opinion is the opposite . . . I wasn't a big fan of the chicks and couldn't wait to get them outside. They seemed mean to each other and just not as cute to me.

 

[Henrietta23]

I brooded ducks twice in one spring. DH says never again! I may not argue on that one. They are cute but man, that was a pain!

 

[miss_thenorth]

What kind of ducks?!?!? my scovies were simply a pleasure, but I didn't have a brooder. I kept them in a dog crate overnight, (with NO water) and outside in a little movable pen during the day. And mine feathered out beautifully.

for the dog crate, I just emptied it and hosed it out for the next night. And scovies don' really make any sounds, except a hissing.

Easy peasy.

 

[hennypenny9]

Our last batch of ducks never, ever got used to us. They were terrified of everything. I was younger, and very sad, because I loved to go and hold my chickens. Could NOT do that with the ducks.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Our last batch of ducks never, ever got used to us. They were terrified of everything. I was younger, and very sad, because I loved to go and hold my chickens. Could NOT do that with the ducks.

If you hatch them yourself, you have the opposite problem.

 

[Henrietta23]

mmhm, I can't hold mine either. They don't even run/waddle to me for food. They were two weeks old when I got them. I tried but they are just not bonded to me at all.
Mine are Blue Swedish and Khaki Campbells.

 

[Wifezilla]

I made a double-decker brooder and it really helped keep the smell down. That being said, some breeds of ducks DO smell more than others.

My buff duckling was WAY stinkier than my campbell.

 

[Javamama]

They are Welsh Harlequins.
The stink is mostly from the water/food mixing, but somehow they get it all over themselves. I can't stand to handle them because I fell like I need a shower afterword. And they are still terrified of swimming so they don't get clean. I can't believe how much more they poo than chicks. Incredible! We now have them on grass from dawn to dusk, then in a brooder at night. The next batch is going directly to grass (during the day) since the weather will be warm. They are not coming in the house no matter how cute they are.

I don't really want to cuddle with any of my animals, but these need to be somewhat docile since they are my daughter's 4-H project. They are just going to have to get used to us holding them - at least until the end of July

 

[Wifezilla]

LOLOL

Welsh Harlequins will warm up to you. I have 2 I got as adults that were flocked raised and skittish. Now I have to practically kick them out of the way when I try to fill the feeder. I might have treats ya know! LOL

As for being afraid of water...mine were like little frogs. They could not wait for bath time!!!