We have the duck coop up and running. The tarp is flimsy and we have a better tarp ordered. But for now, the ducks seem quite happy in their new space. They have a little more space. The pull pen is 36 sq. ft, and this duck pen is 50 sq. ft., including their raised bed area. They are up off the ground, with a mat and hay to help with warmth. I have the brooder warmer in there too until they have all their feathers. Their down is being pushed out by the new feathers, so they look especially fuzzy now. They are about 14 inches tall and I would guess that they weigh about three to four pounds each. Their wings are getting longer and their little peeps are becoming more like deeper quacks. The ducks are four weeks old.
I needed to get some photos of the ones I'm selling, so they got a bath, a blow dry, and some pix taken. They don't like to be handled, but they are becoming more tolerant of it. I'm amazed at how sharp their little toe nails are. Like mini talons!
I also took some photos of the newer pullets that are out in their coop being integrated with the two Faverolles and the one remaining Rhode Island. The remaining hens are great layers. The pullets should start to lay eggs the end of July or first of August. They will be 19 to 20 weeks then and so we will be living on the few eggs we get from the current layers, or the ones we have left in the fridge. The pullets that we kept are, one Rhode Island, one Barred Rock, one Lavender Orpington, one Black Copper Maran, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. They are all really very pretty birds. At the moment, their tails are a tad frayed from being chased by the hens, but they are getting braver and starting to stand their ground.
The meat chicks are seven weeks today, and we were hoping some would be large enough to process. But no such luck. With the much cooler temps, I think a lot of their energy goes into staying warmer this year. I'm fairly certain that they will be big enough next week. If they are not all big enough, we will hold a few back for one more week.
And that's our bird update for end of May.
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