Yesterday I moved the older ducklings out of the livestock trough brooder into the hoop coop because the new Blue Swedish and Pekin ducklings and the Danish white goslings arrived. The last hatched Muscovy ducks and the three goslings were left in the brooder because they were too young to move on with the ducklings. I did move the goslings, but they nearly got trampled as the ducklings tried to pile one on the other in an effort to get away from everything.
The ducklings went over to the new home in the wagon. They were terrified as little ducklings always are. But, when they were in their new home, they had a lid from a Rubbermaid container filled with water to play in. It was 30 degrees and the water was a welcome diversion from the fear they experience with any new situations. Unless ducklings are handled frequently, they tend to be very skittish. Some breeds are reportedly better than others, like the Blue Swedish, but we shall see how they fare compared wth the Khaki Campbell, Rouen, Saxony and Ancona ducks. Of those breeds, the Campbells are certainly the most nervous and the Saxony the quietest.
Once the older ducklings were in their new home, they began to play and eat, both very good signs that they are comfortable. A bit of a surprise came from the geese though. They heard the babies and their mother protective instincts took over and they began to come to the shelter and hiss at anything near. That was endearing to see. I wish the Sebastopol goose would sit on eggs. Maybe next year. Only one goose is sitting this year and she has about 6 eggs only. The Sebastopol cross goslings, if there are any, should be very beautiful with coloured long flowing feathers.
I do enjoy the waterfowl. They are so much hardier than the chicks. The chicks are best incubated and raised by their mommas and one momma just hatched 10 little ones. Tomorrow I will show them to you. Now, out to feed the duckies!
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