Ducklies picture post
May. 4th, 2009 07:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Almost four weeks old now, the Khaki Campbell ducklings are still growing at nearly an inch a day. Given our weather here has turned cold and wet, I've made them a rain break by covering their old pen with a tarp so they can go inside and get dry. We'll see if they use it, mostly they really prefer to be in the Pond. Their mature feathers are coming in very quickly, you can see the subtle color variations along their wings. Until the feathers are fully grown in, they won't be able to sustain their body heat very well so they are still sleeping tucked in the hutch - now wrapped in blankets and tarp to hold the heat in.

Only a few days old, the new ducklings haven't hit their growth spurt yet. They are all supposed to be Rouens, but the yellows may be Indian Runners, possibly Faun & White. We won't know for a few more weeks, though. You can see how the yellow ducklings run around upright, standing while the banded, dark ducklings run around in a squatting position. It's all supposition. In any case, our Mystery Ducks are just as cute (but louder) than their darker siblings!


Only a few days old, the new ducklings haven't hit their growth spurt yet. They are all supposed to be Rouens, but the yellows may be Indian Runners, possibly Faun & White. We won't know for a few more weeks, though. You can see how the yellow ducklings run around upright, standing while the banded, dark ducklings run around in a squatting position. It's all supposition. In any case, our Mystery Ducks are just as cute (but louder) than their darker siblings!

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Date: 2009-05-05 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:49 am (UTC)Joykill. :P
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Date: 2009-05-05 12:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 03:24 am (UTC)Rouens are both darker and more yellow than Mallard hatchlings.
All this duck stuff brings back memories. Sheesh, it's been 30+ years.
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:40 am (UTC)As you can readily see - the yellow ducklings have dark masks and slight darkening on the back and side, collar, etc. But near as I can tell, that combination could be almost a dozen different breeds and/or colorations.
Oy. I don't do patience well.
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:47 am (UTC)And no, you don't do patience well. ;)
We had a particularly stupid Rhode Island Red lay an egg in a mallard nest once. Hatched out and thought it was a duck. (Chickens are stupid and almost personality-free, unless roosters). Even swam with the rest of the ducklings. Called it Waders. Sadly, the little thing died before we got to see if grown up chickens could swim.
Me? I'll take the sheepers.
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:53 am (UTC)Oddly enough the internet has failed to provide a comparison by duck breed for ducklings. The yellows, for instance, have narrow triangular bills compared to the darklies. See, now that's the sort of useful info I have been trying to find. :)
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Date: 2009-05-05 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-05 06:16 am (UTC)So let's say I've lucked out (the Duck Gods adore me, etc.) and all 8 are girls - that's 1 egg per day for each Campbell (28) & Runner (14), say 4 eggs per Rouen (8) per week - that's a maximum of 50 per week. Obviously, individual hens will lay as they will - these are estimates, only.
That said - I'm really fairly positive I've got at least one Campbell drake (Bernard). Way too early to tell with the newbies.
The guys aren't necessary for egg production and frankly may be too problematic, which may necessitate separate pens until they are old enough to go to the processor (3 months). A lot of folks kill off their flock each year in the Fall for meat and begin again with a new flock in the Spring. I can't possibly see us doing that. The neighborhood kids would hate us.