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 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 :)

Chicks are 5 weeks old!!!

Our 7 chicks are growing fast and quick. They are consuming their food quickly and has taken a LOVE to bread.

We also had a few busybody chicks, always wanting to know what's out there!

Craig had put in a new perch for them and the chickies are showing their gratitude quick!

You can see Stripy standing up and Little sitting down. Little couldn't sit on the perch because of its feet.

Presenting some of the noisy buggers!

 One white with black feathers with no comb

This might be a part bantam. it has feathers on its feet. It has the best hairstyle among the 7 of them and I called it Elvis.

Stripy is now bigger as well and its watermelon body is over taken by its feathers. You can still see the stripe on its eye.

Little was the one born 2 days little, at week 3 we discover it's feet is deformed. Little can't sit on a perch so it's always sleeping alone, laying down. 

Today, we bought saw dust for the chicks because they keep eating their own poo and it stinks! They loved the saw dust once we put it in. It's soft on their feet and 2 white chicks start dusting themselves madly!

dusting themselves

Moving to a bigger home

Today I got the chickies a brand new home. It's bigger and more spacious.

The chickies were unsure when they first move into their palace..but it didn't take them long to figure things out. Soon they were jumping and flying around in their new palace!

Craig even made a temporary perch for them!